Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Phase 1 of its Station Leasing Programme in the Western Region, inviting interested parties to lease, invest in, develop, operate and maintain station precinct assets for a minimum lease period of 10 years.
The RFP forms part of TRIM’s ongoing efforts to unlock value from its rail assets through structured private sector participation and covers three station facilities in the Western Region, namely Dal Josafat, Huguenot and Bitterfontein. The programme includes the leasing and commercialisation of bundled station assets such as land, warehouses, retail buildings, goods sheds and office facilities.
This initiative is aligned to South Africa’s rail reform programme and supports TRIM’s mandate to enable open access to the national rail network while improving asset utilisation, service delivery and infrastructure sustainability. Successful bidders will be required to undertake refurbishments, upgrades, maintenance and operational improvements within the station precincts.
TRIM Chief Executive, Moshe Motlohi said: “This programme demonstrates TRIM’s continued commitment to transparent, market-based access to strategic rail assets. Through private sector participation, we aim to strengthen partnerships, improve our service delivery and unlock long-term economic value across the South African rail network.”
The Station Leasing Programme is part of TRIM’s broader strategy to support economic growth, infrastructure development and increased private sector participation within South Africa’s rail sector. The RFP Bid Submission Deadline is 23 June 2026, 23:59.
Why it Matters
TRIM’s Station Leasing Programme signals a practical shift in how South Africa’s rail assets may be used, maintained and commercialised. By opening selected station precincts to long-term private sector participation, the programme creates a route for underutilised assets to support investment, refurbishment, operational improvement and local economic activity.
The RFP also sits within the broader rail reform environment, where asset utilisation, open access and private sector participation are central to rebuilding confidence in the national rail network. For developers, logistics operators, local businesses and infrastructure investors, the programme creates a defined opportunity to engage directly with rail-linked property and precinct assets.
