UK to support southern African rail development

The UK Government, in late August, announced new initiatives to bolster regional development, trade, and investment in rail infrastructure within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

At the 2024 conference convened by the Southern African Railway Association (SARA) in Johannesburg last month, British High Commissioner to South Africa, Antony Phillipson, revealed that new UK funding would be allocated to Crossrail International and Transport for London to share their expertise in support of inclusive economic development in Southern Africa.

Crossrail International, formed to share lessons from the £19 billion Crossrail project in the UK, will provide technical assistance to SARA, support SARA in implementing regional policies and regulatory reforms, and assist in developing the business case for a Railway Centre of Excellence.

Transport for London (TfL), which facilitates 3.3 billion journeys annually, will also provide technical advice to South African local governments to enhance passenger rail services.

“We are excited to be part of the effort supporting sustainable development in Southern Africa, fostering collaboration between the UK and SARA to promote regional growth through rail infrastructure development”, said British High Commissioner Antony Phillipson.

Executive Director at SARA, Babe Botana, welcomed the collaboration, stating, “This relationship demonstrates the power of international partnerships, in strengthening the collective capabilities of our organisations to drive our regional railway agenda.”

The Southern African Railway Association (SARA) is the mandated rail transport body for the SADC region, dedicated to promoting and advancing rail transport services across the region.

SARA’s core programmes focus on enhancing operational efficiency, safety, investment promotion, and the adoption of international best practices to ensure a robust and efficient rail network.-ebsinessweekl