Passenger rail services in Durban are set for a major upgrade as the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) accelerates infrastructure projects aimed at improving the reliability, safety and capacity of the city’s rail network.
PRASA is investing approximately R2 billion in the rehabilitation of the Umlazi Corridor, one of the busiest passenger rail corridors in KwaZulu-Natal. The investment forms part of a wider R11 billion programme to enhance passenger rail infrastructure across South Africa.
The Umlazi Corridor currently carries about 1.8 million passengers annually, with the rehabilitation programme expected to support passenger growth to approximately 10 million passengers per year once the upgrades are completed.
A key component of the programme is the modernisation of signalling and telecommunications systems. According to the eThekwini Municipality, the upgrades are expected to improve train safety, reliability and scheduling.
Once the signalling upgrades are fully implemented, trains could operate at intervals of between three and five minutes, increasing the capacity of the corridor and allowing more passengers to use rail services.
PRASA has also procured 101 additional trains to support the expansion of passenger rail services in KwaZulu-Natal.
The first completed signalling upgrade section, covering the Crossmoor to Havenside corridor, is scheduled for an official unveiling next month. A further section between Rossburgh and Pinetown is also included in the planned rollout.
South Africa Expands Passenger Train Manufacturing
The expansion of passenger rail infrastructure is also being supported by investment in local rolling-stock manufacturing.
PRASA has previously appointed the Gibela Rail Transport Consortium to manufacture 600 passenger trains, while the agency is now acquiring an additional 101 trains for its network.
PRASA has also outlined plans to take control of the manufacturing facility once its existing agreement with Gibela ends. The move is intended to support the development of local passenger-train manufacturing capacity.
The agency has indicated that locally sourced components will form part of the manufacturing programme, supporting the development of South Africa’s rail supply chain.
PRASA is also exploring opportunities to deploy surplus trains elsewhere in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), potentially extending the operational life of existing rolling stock while supporting regional passenger rail development.
The combination of corridor rehabilitation, signalling upgrades, additional rolling stock and local manufacturing is expected to increase passenger rail capacity and support the modernisation of Durban’s public transport infrastructure.
