Reimagining Interprovincial Railway - The Gauteng-Limpopo Rail Link and Gautrain's Next Chapter

Railways Africa Magazine

Tshepo Kgobe, set to assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) in February 2024, sat down for an enlightening Coffee with the Editor, chat during the International Railway Safety Council Conference, organized by the Railway Safety Regulator. While everyone eagerly awaits updates on the Gautrain extensions and the impending Gautrain concession transition, Tshepo hinted at exciting, forward-thinking plans on the horizon. High on the agenda is the Gauteng-Limpopo rail link initiative. This endeavour, driven by the GMA, aims to address urbanisation and revive the economies of smaller towns previously overlooked due to national highways. The vision? To eventually integrate this link into a comprehensive high-speed rail network for the province. Tshepo passionately spoke about the project's core mission, emphasizing that if you wish to jumpstart a nation's economy, you begin at its heart and subsequently reestablish connections to its diverse regions. Thankfully, rail is at the epicentre of this vision. Touching on the financial side, Tshepo highlighted the pressing need to rethink the funding narrative for passenger rail. He elaborated on the concept of a "negative concession", where the government intervenes to make fares affordable for citizens, drawing a global perspective and noting that this approach isn't new here or internationally. A shift in our narrative is crucial. Reflecting on the pandemic era, Tshepo shared insights into Gautrain's operations during the COVID-19 lockdown, underscoring the extensive measures they undertook to ensure the network's security. On expansion queries, he revealed that the GMA is currently navigating through the second of two crucial approvals: charting out the new route for the Soweto line and re-envisioning the 'super network' to interconnect special economic zones. The unveiling of this revamped network is on the horizon. Regarding the anticipated concession transition, Tshepo walked us through the intricate processes, strategies, and upcoming phases, noting the need for them to keep devolution in mind amidst the myriad of evolving components. The conversation also touched upon high-speed rail prospects and explored green technologies, including hydrogen.