The Regional Rapid Transit (RRT) Public-Private Partnership (PSP) programme represents the next stage in South Africa’s rail evolution, linking modernised commuter systems with regional and continental connectivity. Its objective is to re-establish rail as the backbone of sustainable mobility and reverse decades of road-centred development.
The vision outlines a modernised PRASA network delivering reliable commuter rail that supports Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in suburban areas, while new regional extensions to Polokwane, Musina, Mbombela, and Pietermaritzburg drive regional consolidation and integrated growth. These routes will ultimately connect with future High-Speed Rail (HSR) lines linking Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town, where major airport nodes such as O.R. Tambo, King Shaka, and Cape Town International will serve as catalysts for large-scale TODs and economic clustering.
Each RRT corridor may be structured as a route-specific concession under Design, Build, Operate, and Maintain (DBOM) or similar long-term PSP models. Private consortia will finance, construct, and operate the infrastructure and rolling stock, while the state retains ownership of land, wayleaves, and strategic oversight. Risk-sharing frameworks will ensure private partners manage performance and technology, and public entities maintain oversight of access, affordability, and safety.
The RRT corridors are expected to deliver high passenger consolidation ratios, reflecting strong regional demand. In alignment with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the programme supports harmonised, cross-border PSP templates for Southern Africa’s rail corridors, promoting cooperation, industrial scaling, and shared prosperity across SADC.
Regional Rapid Transit (RRT) & High-Speed Rail (HSR, known as RFI 5, ultimately defines a strategic transition towards a rail-focused, sustainable transport system that integrates commuter, regional, and high-speed services within a single national framework—positioning rail as a driver of urban regeneration, regional integration, and continental industrialisation.
Interested parties should consult: https://www.psp-rfi.co.za/
