Road and Rail 2013: A review of South Africa's road and rail infrastructure

Although rail is considered the preferred mode of transport for transporting goods over long distances, 89% of all freight in South Africa is moved on roads. Considering the economic importance of preserving the country’s single largest public asset – nearly 750 000 km of road network, with a replacement value of R1.7-trillion – it should be considered a top priority, yet it is plagued by significant maintenance backlogs and underinvestment. Although South Africa has made progress on transport development in some parts of the country, especially Gauteng, where it has spent a considerable amount on rapid rail infrastructure, bus rapid transit systems and upgraded freeways, many South Africans do not have access to modern transport networks. Creamer Media’s Road and Rail 2013 Report examines South Africa’s road and rail transport system, with particular focus on the size and state of the country’s road and rail network, the funding and maintenance of these respective networks, and the push to move road freight back onto rail.