Effient and save rail travel in Africa still a dream
AFRICA has seen major
investments in its rail
infrastructure over the
past few years. Notably,
Chinese investors have
recognised the potential of
rail travel on the continent.
On a recent visit to Africa,
China’s prime minister signed
a contract to build a US$3,8bn
(R405bn) track that will link
Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and
South Sudan for trains that can
reach a top speed of 120kph.
Work on the line is expected
to start in October and the
610km stretch from the coast
to Nairobi is due to be finished
in early 2018.
African Union chief,
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma,
has repeatedly mentioned her
dream for Africa to be linked
by high-speed railways. In a
speech to the African Union
in the beginning of the year,
she outlined her vision of rail
connections to all the capitals
of Africa.
However for corporate
travellers, efficient,
comfortable and safe rail travel
across Africa is just that – a
dream. Kananelo Makhetha,
md of BCD Travel, says the
quality of rail travel in Africa
is just not geared to service
visiting business people and
he would not encourage clients
to use it. “We do not consider
rail as an option for our clients
travelling in Africa.”
According to Kananelo,
where rail travel exists, it is
primarily geared towards the
local commuting market. He
believes Africa needs intercity
connections in cities such
as Lagos and Abuja. “Rail is
a very high capital-intensive
business and in some areas
in Africa the little infrastructure
for passenger and goods travel
has been allowed to collapse.”
Chris Pouney, director,
business travel for Severnside
Consulting in the UK, says
for the moment there are
no credible rail options for
Africa at all. “I am aware
of some isolated pockets
of development, mostly
in Morocco and Algeria,
but for the most part any
development planned, is within
countries – Ghana, Nigeria
and Kenya for example – and
geared towards freight and
cargo.” But, he points out, “in
most countries, rail routes
follow historic trade and freight
routes. In short, freight is the
start point”.
“The sheer distances in
Africa make train travel always
a struggle compared with air
travel, unlike in Europe where
business capitals are often
only a few hundred kilometres
apart,” says Chris. He adds
that safety and infrastructure
are two major obstacles when
it comes to rail travel in Africa.
Is SA the exception?
Whereas corporate travellers
seem reluctant to take to the
rails in Africa, South Africa’s
Gauteng-based intercity
Gautrain seems to be the
exception. Chris says: “There
are examples of excellence.
The Gautrain would grace any
city in the world in terms of
cost, quality and reliability.”
Tlago Ramalepa,
spokesperson for the Gautrain,
says Gauteng recently
conducted a detailed analysis
of the current transport
network in the province. A
25-year Integrated Transport
Master Plan (ITMP25) was
developed, prioritising the rail
system as the backbone of the
entire transport network.
According to Tlago, this
has prompted the Gautrain
to conduct a feasibility
study on new routes. “The
purpose of this feasibility
study is, amongst others, to
inform which routes should
be developed, based on a
number of associated benefits
such as socio-economic
development, land-use
changes and environmental
impacts.” Tlago adds that in
the short-term, the Gautrain
will be expanding its platform
at OR Tambo International
Airport Station and increasing
parking capacity at the Pretoria
and Centurion Stations.
Time frames have yet to be
confirmed.
The rest of South Africa
is developing much-needed
rail infrastructure. Minister
of Public Enterprises, Lynne
Brown, recently said that a
focus over the next five to 10
years would be on refurbishing
all rail lines across the
country.
The Passenger Rail Agency
of South Africa (PRASA) has
signed a R51bn contract
with Gibela to supply 600
passenger trains (3 600
coaches) to be delivered
between 2015 and 2025.
PRASA group ceo, Lucky
Montana, said: “The PRASA
fleet renewal programme is the
catalyst for the transformation
of Metrorail services and
public transport in South Africa
as a whole.”
Corporate travellers would
most certainly welcome
improved rail connections
throughout South Africa.
Kananelo says: “We need
a high-speed connection
between Johannesburg and
Cape Town and Durban in
the future.” However, Chris
warns that, realistically, unless
there are true high-speed
train lines such as Eurostar
and Thalys, or ACELA in the
US, the distance between
Johannesburg and Cape Town
is best covered by plane.
Book it
Britrail is offering travellers one day’s free travel when they purchase a consecutive pass, a Flexipass, an
England consecutive pass or an England flexipass. This special is valid for sale until August 31.
Explore Swizerland with Trafalgar
Experience the Glacier Express in
Switzerland on Trafalgar's Contrasts
of Switzerland tour from R31 150pps.
This At Leisure holiday
package includes seven nights’
accommodation with hot buffet
breakfast daily, lunch, three dinners
and all transport on the Glacier
Express, and a Golden Pass Train
Line. Guests will stay at the
Hotel Bären in St Moritz.
Travellers will see the Alpine lakes,
ancient glaciers and snow-capped
mountains. They’ll explore the
sights of Zurich, Zermatt and St.
Moritz and see medieval Lucerne
and cosmopolitan Geneva, passing
through 91 tunnels and over 291
bridges as lakes, mountains and
glaciers appear at their window.
"Sit and Save" German Rail Pass
THE German rail pass promotion,
‘Sit & Save’, lets travellers explore
the country at a 25% discount on
all passes from mid-June until the
end of October. The rail pass sale
ends on October 31. The class types
for the promotion are first and second
class and apply for all ages.
Promotional passes are nonexchangeable
and non-refundable
and reservations are compulsory on
the following trains when travelling on
the promotional pass: ICE, IC, EC, RJ,
TGV, CNL, EN and D trains, as well as
for the IC bus services on routes in
Germany.
Luxury MICE rail travel -a differnt league
WHILE passenger trains in Africa
lag behind their European and US
counterparts, luxury leisure rail travel
in Africa is recognised as exceptional,
with private operators such as the
iconic Blue Train and Rovos Rail.
The Blue Train is a popular option
for clients looking to give their product
launch, meeting or incentive gathering
an air of ultimate luxury. Themba
Masheula, spokesperson for The
Blue Train, says incentive travel has
increased exponentially. “Last year we
saw an increase of almost 200% on
our turnover budget on this market.”
According to Themba, the Blue Train
has acquired business from corporates
that attend annual events such as the
Vodacom Durban July, Macufe Festival
in Bloemfontein, J&B Met in Cape
Town, the Nedbank Golf in Sun City
and recently, the Fashion Week in Cape
Town. “These events form part of our
charter strategy for every year and are
partly the reason why we did so well in
this market last year.”
Get free days with Eurail
Eurail has launched a promotional
offer where travellers can get one
free day’s travel on a selected Eurail
Pass. This is valid for passes of six,
eight or 10 days.
Travellers can also get two
free days on the Eurail Global
Consecutive Pass when they
purchase a 15-day pass. They’ll
receive three free days when they
purchase a 22-day pass and five
days when they purchase a onemonth
pass. This special is valid
for sales until September 30. Travel
must take place within six months of
date of issue.
