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Durban mayor reignites call for long-awaited Johannesburg–Durban high-speed rail
The idea of a high-speed train linking Johannesburg and Durban has been on South Africa’s to-do list for more than a decade. Now, Durban’s mayor, Cyril Xaba, says it’s time to stop planning and start building.
Speaking at the launch of eThekwini’s new Public Transport Information Centre on Monday, Xaba challenged both national and municipal leaders to move the project from paper to progress.
“We have been talking about the high-speed rail between Joburg and Durban for the longest time now. It is not getting off the ground,” he said. “It’s high time we start moving this idea.”
Fifteen years of promises
The rail link was first discussed in 2010, under then-Transport Minister S’bu Ndebele, but has remained stuck in planning ever since. President Cyril Ramaphosa revived the idea in his 2024 State of the Nation Address, confirming that Cabinet had approved a framework for a national high-speed rail network, starting with the Johannesburg–Durban corridor.
Xaba said the delay has become symbolic of South Africa’s slow pace on large-scale infrastructure. “We are being accused of developing plans that never see the light of day,” he admitted.
Support from the Development Bank
Xaba revealed that the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) is willing to help finance the project using a blended funding model. He said the bank was “keen to facilitate” the project after recent discussions held in Johannesburg.
“If we succeed, it means Durban succeeds too,” he said, noting that improved travel between the provinces could strengthen tourism, trade, and weekend travel for thousands who live between the two cities.
A vision of connectivity
The proposed line would link two of South Africa’s busiest economic hubs, cutting travel time from over six hours by car to roughly two and a half hours by train. The mayor said this connectivity could stimulate regional growth while easing congestion on the N3 highway.
“People who work in Joburg but come from this region could travel more easily, spend weekends at home, and invest their earnings back into Durban,” Xaba added.
National and regional backing
Support for the project extends beyond the eThekwini Municipality. ANC eThekwini spokesperson Thinta Cibane said the party views the rail link as a transformative project that could drive economic recovery, create jobs, and boost tourism between KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
He added that the ANC fully supports the mayor’s push for urgency, especially during Transport Month, which highlights South Africa’s mobility challenges and infrastructure priorities.
Turning plans into progress
For now, Xaba and his Johannesburg counterpart Dada Morero are lobbying to make the project a joint priority between the two metros. The national Rail Policy Document, expected to be released this month, will determine whether the high-speed line finally gains traction.
“The project needs to be actioned and integrated swiftly,” Xaba said. “Unless my colleague Dada Morero and I drive it, I don’t think it will move at the speed it deserves.”
After fifteen years of studies and speeches, Durban’s mayor wants to make sure South Africa’s long-discussed high-speed dream doesn’t stay stuck on the tracks.
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Source: IOL
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