East London - The upgrading of the Eastern Cape's Kei Rail network to allow trains to travel between Durban and Cape Town is set to begin by 2016.
Spokesperson for the national Department of Transport Logan Maistry said railway development in the province would focus on improving existing rail infrastructure and opening new lines that would allow trains to travel directly from Durban to Cape Town along the coast.
"Rail infrastructure improvement of (the Kei Rail) and extension of the branch line to KwaZulu-Natal, Kokstad being an option, is targeted to start by 2015/16. Feasibility studies are being commissioned in partnership with Transnet in regards to the matter," said Maistry.
The project is expected to be important in connecting the Eastern Cape's coastal economies which will realise growth and development aspirations.
It will also lessen the burden on inland freight transportation and benefit tourism development through the introduction of a "rail garden route".
Phase one of the project will see the upgrading of the existing line between Mthatha and East London, while phase two includes the construction of a new rail connection between the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
Phase three will involve upgrading the Cookhouse line between East London and Port Elizabeth. In phase four, the railway line between the Eastern and Western Cape will be built.
"The service will target passengers for tourism and alternative modes of travel between coastal provinces, and target goods transport in line with the Government Transport Agenda to move freight from road to rail," he added.
Maistry said it would be difficult to predict when exactly the project would be completed, given the geographical constraints and complexity of rail development in rolling coastal plateaus separated by several rivers with steep escarpments.
The department would have to wait for the results of feasibility studies before setting more definite timeframes.
