At the recent Southern African Railways Association (SARA) Conference and Exhibition, a high-level panel discussion on “Transforming Rail Operations” tackled one of the most pressing issues facing the sector: how to modernise legacy operating systems and position rail as a competitive mode of transport across Africa.
The panel brought together Khumbulani Mabvura of Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway, Johny Smith of Grindrod, Nicolas Gregoir of Lobito Atlantic Railway, Wes Kruger of Traxtion, Nimon Zulu of Calabash Freight, and Shamina Krishnaswamy, Transnet Infrastructure Manager – TRIM. The session was moderated by Geoffrey Magwede, who set the tone by noting that Africa’s railways are at a crossroads, with the choice either to maintain the status quo or to “step up” rail operations and unlock their economic potential.
Legacy Systems and the Need for Change
The discussion opened with an assessment of Africa’s legacy railway systems, which were characterised as under-maintained, slow to innovate, and overly protectionist. Participants noted that many railways inherited significant industrial capacity and infrastructure but failed to keep pace with global advances. This has led to missed opportunities for local manufacturing, research, and development. The panel emphasised the importance of revitalising skills, investing in research capacity, and adopting proven global solutions to drive operational efficiency.
Investment, Infrastructure, and Market Access
Infrastructure maintenance and renewal emerged as the central priority. Poorly maintained track, outdated signalling, and rolling stock in disrepair were cited as the main causes of inefficiency and derailments, making rail uncompetitive compared to road transport. The panel called for significant investment in track upgrades, predictive maintenance, and telecommunications systems to ensure safe, reliable operations and reduce cycle times.
Market liberalisation and open access were repeatedly highlighted as critical enablers. The view was that opening networks to new entrants with funding capacity would increase competition, improve service levels, and reduce logistics costs. Participants pointed to recent policy moves in South Africa to appoint new rail operators as evidence that the private sector is ready to invest where enabling frameworks exist
Public-Private Partnerships and Enabling Frameworks
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) were seen as essential to close the funding gap, particularly where governments face fiscal constraints. The panel stressed that concession and access fee frameworks must balance fair returns for investors with the long-term sustainability of state-owned infrastructure. Competitive access regimes were identified as key to unlocking additional volumes, given that rail is a fixed-cost business and requires high throughput to achieve efficiency.
Participants of the panel encouraged governments to create a transparent, enabling environment to attract private operators. This includes unbundling vertically integrated state railways, establishing independent regulators to set access charges, and providing clear, predictable rules for slot allocation and corridor access.
Regional Integration and Digitalisation
Another theme was the importance of regional integration and interoperability. Participants argued that rail reform must look beyond national networks to develop seamless cross-border corridors. This would allow for block train operations, reduce delays at borders, and shift freight off roads, reducing road congestion and infrastructure damage.
The role of digitalisation was also discussed, with the view that advanced solutions should be introduced in a phased but coordinated manner. Network statements, corridor-level planning, and bilateral agreements were identified as tools to ensure integration across regions.
Reform Priorities
The session consolidated key priorities for accelerating rail transformation:
- Policy reform to open networks and allow fair third-party access.
- Significant infrastructure investment in track, signalling, and telecommunications to support higher volumes safely.
- Concession and funding models that attract private capital while ensuring long-term sustainability.
- Independent regulation to guarantee transparent access and fair pricing.
- Regional coordination to enable efficient cross-border operations and promote trade.
- Recognition of rail as a developmental multiplier that can lower logistics costs, stimulate investment, and support economic growth.
The discussion closed with a clear message that transformation is not optional but necessary for Africa’s competitiveness
