Durban high-speed train plan: A game changer for the city’s economy says Mayor Xaba
eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba says there has been progress in the high-speed train project to connect Durban and Johannesburg.
Image: eThekwini Municipality / Facebook
Durban mayor Cyril Xaba says the long-discussed high-speed train linking Durban to Johannesburg is finally moving closer to reality.
This development is expected to unlock major economic opportunities for the city and ease congestion at the country’s busiest port. At the recent KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Investment Conference, KZN Premier Thami Ntuli also expressed his support for the project.
Xaba was responding to Transport Minister Barbara Creecy’s announcement of new Requests for Information (RFIs) inviting private sector participation in the modernisation of South Africa’s rail network.
Among the proposed projects is a regional rapid train connecting Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Polokwane, Musina, and Mbombela, with trains expected to reach speeds of up to 300 km/h on new high-speed corridors.
Economic impact and tourism boost
“I am pleased that all these engagements are yielding positive results,” said Xaba.
“During these engagements, I have been constantly emphasising to the Minister and her team the importance of resuscitating the speed train project. As a city, we welcome this move as it will boost the economy of Durban, especially the tourism sector.”
Creecy stated earlier this week that the RFIs mark “another important milestone in our collective journey to make rail the cornerstone of our national transport and logistics system.”
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She added that PRASA, which has already reopened 35 of its 40 passenger corridors, “requires additional investment that cannot be carried by the fiscus alone.”
The mayor highlighted that the city’s engagement with Creecy, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, and Transnet is part of a broader push to strengthen Durban’s transport infrastructure. “Upon completion, thousands of people from Gauteng will be descending on Durban on a weekly basis for business and tourism,” Xaba said.
He also welcomed Creecy’s commitment to involving private investors in rail upgrades, stating that collaboration between government and business is essential to improve transport efficiency and sustain growth.
Enhancements to Durban’s Port Operations
Alongside rail expansion, Xaba praised Transnet’s R1 billion investment in four new ship-to-shore cranes for the Durban Container Terminal, saying the equipment will enhance efficiency and “position Durban as a globally competitive port city.”
The municipality and Transnet are also advancing several infrastructure projects to decongest the port, including a dry port at Cato Ridge, the establishment of truck staging areas, and the construction of a second access road to the terminal. A Memorandum of Understanding has already been signed between eThekwini and Transnet Port Terminals, and rezoning processes for the designated land are underway.
He also said that plans for the Insimbi Ridge Project, which is a 350-hectare logistics and light industrial development along the Durban–Johannesburg corridor, are also in advanced stages. Xaba said the project would improve freight efficiency and support the national Freight Logistics Roadmap’s goal of integrating road, rail, and port operations.