With 160 billion rands ($21.12 billion US), South Africa has promised to invest heavily in improving its transportation infrastructure. In this huge amount of capital that will be poured into maintaining roads, expanding airports, and upgrading air traffic navigation, is a 18 billion rands ($2.38 billion US) bill for the country's rail service. South Africa hopes to have a world class transport system by the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
This large investment will help refurbish the current fleet of trains, including the MetroRail suburban train network that carries workers into large cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town. Some 790 railcars have already been refurbished and another 700 will be renovated this year. The under-investment in the railway's rolling stocks has been the blame for the degrading rail service and a fleet replacement program is slated to come out in the next few weeks. In addition to rolling stock, stations will be upgraded, especially those near the World Cup events.
South Africa stressed the importance of improving its railways and that "it is a matter of urgency" to replace its aging trains.
Photo by Flickr user DanieVDM.
