According to Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) chairperson Sifiso Buthelezi, work on a rapid rail system that will link Durban and Pietermaritzburg is set to start this year or early next year.

Buthelezi said Prasa saw that congestion on the roads could be eased if they were to implement a rapid train system between the cities, especially in the mornings and afternoons.

“The work will start as soon as possible. What is good is that we will not be starting from scratch because there is a rail link running between and beyond the two cities.”

Buthelezi also mentioned that R1.8 billion would be invested in the rail system of Kwazulu-Natal and that they would work closely with local government to ensure that people are given new job opportunities during the construction phase of the project.