The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) says the draft National Rail Master Plan will play a key role in shaping the future of rail transport in the country.
Prasa says the plan provides a long-term framework to expand and modernise rail networks while improving commuter services.
Speaking at the opening of public consultations on the draft plan in Kempton Park, Prasa Group Chief Executive Officer Hishaam Emeran says the plan will help guide both recovery and future expansion.
“While Prasa has achieved significant progress in terms of our recovery and revolting modernisation, this blueprint helps us with the medium to long-term in terms of modernising the whole system at scale also expanding their own networks which are very important. I always make the point that, for example, our cities have grown significantly in the past four decades but you don’t see much rail expansion happening, so that’s a key aspect that will be captured in the national rail master plan and also over and above that, what is critical is new technologies. What is quite topical today is the issue of rapid rail and high-speed rail, this is quite critical for intercity rail services that we provide.”
A rail system built by the people, for the people.
The Rail Masterplan brings together voices across the sector to transform how South Africa moves.#RebuildingRail @Dotransport pic.twitter.com/doWorT7mTg
— PRASA Group (@PRASA_Group) April 23, 2026
What is the Draft Rail Masterplan?
Following Cabinet’s approval of the National Transport Master Plan 2050 (NATMAP) Synopsis Update in 2016, the subsequent approval of the White Paper on National Rail Policy in 2022 and the National Freight Logistics Roadmap in 2023, the… pic.twitter.com/otj8PvNzBZ
— Department of Transport (@Dotransport) April 23, 2026
This morning PRASA Executive members joined the opening of public consultations on the draft National Rail Master Plan (NRMP), led by the Minister of Transport, Ms. Barbara Creecy. This follows Cabinet approval on the 1st of April 2026 for the gazetting of the draft NRMP for… pic.twitter.com/ZZDJLf8Qvd
— PRASA Group (@PRASA_Group) April 23, 2026
