Key progress made on South Africa’s first bullet train project

South Africa is building its first bullet train, which will let passengers travel a 500 km loop between Limpopo and Gauteng in record time. The project, expected to be completed by 2030, is already making major progress.

First announced in 2023, the Limpopo-Gauteng Speed Train Project has now moved into the feasibility and environmental impact assessment phase. These studies will evaluate the project’s safety, environmental sustainability, and economic viability.

SOUTH AFRICA’S FIRST BULLET TRAIN

The launch of South Africa’s first bullet train is being led by both national and provincial government, along with a consortium of private and foreign investors. The Department of Transport has identified land acquisition along the proposed 500 km route as a major challenge. To move forward, officials must still negotiate successfully with communities and landowners in Limpopo and Gauteng.

If these talks go smoothly, construction on South Africa’s first bullet train could begin in late 2026, according to BusinessTech.

HOW FAST WILL IT BE?

Reports indicate that South Africa’s first bullet train will drastically cut travel time along the route. A journey that currently takes six hours by car from Pretoria to Polokwane will be reduced to just 90 minutes—even with scheduled stops in Hammanskraal, Bela-Bela, Mokopane, Louis Trichardt, and Musina.

The train will operate in phases, reaching speeds above 200 km/h on select sections, while maintaining a slower pace between stops. On average, it’s expected to travel at around 175 km/h between Pretoria and Polokwane.

FASTEST HIGH-SPEED RAIL (HSR) GLOBALLY

While South Africa’s first bullet train won’t match the speeds of others globally, it still technically qualifies as one:

GAUTENG INVESTING BILLIONS

Additionally, the Gauteng government has committed R120 billion over the next five years to expand its rail infrastructure. This investment covers both South Africa’s first bullet train and six new routes in the upgraded Gautrain network. The province also aims to grow PRASA’s commuter network to handle 600 million passenger journeys annually by 2030.

However, the projected cost of the bullet train is steep, estimated at around R530 billion for the single line, sparking valid concerns over funding and long-term viability. Notably, this won’t be Africa’s first high-speed rail system; Morocco introduced its TGV service in 2018.