Joburg To Durban In Two Hours? High Speed Rail Project Gains Momentum

Fifteen years after it was first discussed, South Africa’s dream of a high-speed rail link between Johannesburg and Durban might finally be inching closer to reality.

A Vision Reignited

Speaking at the launch of eThekwini’s new Public Transport Information Centre, Durban Mayor Cyril Xaba reignited the conversation about the long-delayed project, urging both government and financiers to “stop talking and start building.”

“We’ve been discussing the high-speed rail between Joburg and Durban since 2010,” Xaba said. “It’s time to get it off the ground.”

The proposed line would connect South Africa’s two largest economic hubs Johannesburg and Durban in around two hours, offering a transformative leap for domestic travel and trade.

Presidential Support And Funding Interest

The project has received fresh political and financial backing in recent years. In 2023, Cabinet approved a national framework for high-speed rail, and President Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirmed his commitment to the Johannesburg–Durban route during his 2024 State of the Nation Address.

Xaba confirmed that the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has expressed interest in helping finance the project through blended funding models, combining public and private investment. “If we succeed, it means the city of Durban succeeds too,” he said.

The high-speed trains are expected to cruise at around 177 km/h and exceed 200 km/h on certain stretches a game-changer for South African transport infrastructure.

More Than Just Speed

Beyond cutting travel time, Xaba believes the rail link could unlock new economic and social possibilities. “People who work in Joburg could spend their weekends in Durban and invest back into their communities,” he noted.

Easier, faster travel between KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng could boost tourism, trade, and business ties, while offering a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to road or air travel.

A Transformative Step For Mobility

The ANC’s eThekwini region has thrown its support behind the proposal, describing it as a “transformative initiative” that could reshape how South Africans move and work.

If realised, the Joburg–Durban high-speed rail would mark one of South Africa’s most ambitious post-apartheid infrastructure projects symbolising not just engineering progress, but a commitment to reconnecting regions, empowering workers, and stimulating inclusive growth.

Whether the plan finally leaves the station this time remains to be seen, but momentum is clearly building and with it, renewed hope that South Africans might one day zip from Joburg to Durban in the time it takes to watch a movie.

{Source: The South African}

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