SA's rail infrastructure slows down economy
The country's ageing rail infrastructure is adversely affecting mobility and impacting on South Africa's economy.
That's according to Transport Minister Dipou Peters who today launched the Green Paper on the National Rail Policy.
The policy looks to make rail the country's backbone when it comes to transporting goods.
Peters says more than half of the country's rolling stock and rail network is more than 50-years-old.
''Inefficient operations and the under utilisation of the network has resulted in the significant loss of market share to road with rail carrying 11% of the market share, while road carries 89%.
''There are large volumes of rail friendly goods transported on the road, which has an adverse effect on the road infrastructure.
''We have seen the increased number of trucks on South African roads which not only damage our roads but also contribute to increased road carnage,'' he said.
(Photo: Rail Transport/Wikipedia)