Rail freight system will benefit economy, reduce road maintenance

To limit the damage to the national and provincial road networks – primarily caused by heavy-duty freight vehicles – and cut down on resulting maintenance, government should ensure that South Africa has a workable and reliable rail freight service, says auditing and consulting firm KPMG. KPMG infrastructure advisory division head De Buys Scott says the introduction of a practical rail freight service would reduce truck traffic in the long term, easing the traffic burden on the road networks while enhancing the longevity and quality of roads.