The Role of the Southern African Railway Association (SARA) in Driving Railway Safety and Efficiency in the SADC Region

At this year’s Railway Safety Conference, hosted by the Railway Safety Regulator, Dr. Lubinda Mufalo Sakanga, Director of Technical & Operations at the Southern African Railways Association (SARA), delivered an insightful presentation highlighting the significance of railway safety management systems for the efficiency and service delivery of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) rail network. With South Africa as one of the 16 SADC member countries, the presentation provided a comprehensive overview of how the region is working to harmonise railway operations and drive economic growth through rail connectivity.

Introduction: SADC and SARA’s Mandate

The SADC region, comprising 16 countries, is home to a vast railway network primarily defined by the 1,067 mm Cape gauge, which covers approximately 50,000 kilometres—representing 85% of Africa’s railway network. The region’s railway industry plays a crucial role in promoting economic growth by enabling freight transport, passenger services, and access to key population and economic hubs.

Since its establishment in 1996, SARA’s mission has been to ensure the seamless, efficient, and safe provision of rail services across the SADC region. By fostering regional cooperation, SARA aims to bridge geographical differences between member countries and promote mutual economic benefits. One of the primary objectives of SARA is to harmonise national railway policies and ensure that all SADC countries adhere to protocols on transport, communication, and meteorology to create a cohesive and reliable rail network.

The Value of the SARA Strategic Plan

SARA’s strategic plan serves as a guiding framework for the SADC railway industry, calling for member countries to collaborate and optimise rail efficiency. The plan’s key objectives include:

• Re-establishing railway services as the cost-efficient transport mode of choice.
• Promoting good governance and sustainable business operations.
• Encouraging the use of local resources to innovate around manufacturing and supply chains.

One critical point made during the presentation was the need to reduce costs in the railway industry by innovating with locally sourced materials and alternatives. For example, adopting solar energy for rail operations could reduce dependence on imported fuel, creating more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions.

The SADC Railway Infrastructure Master Plan

The presentation also touched on the upcoming SADC Railway Infrastructure Master Plan, which is being developed to guide the region’s railway development. Inspired by the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the master plan draws from the Cape to Cairo dream, which envisions seamless rail connectivity across Africa. The SADC master plan aims to:

• Align railway infrastructure development with sustainable development goals (SDGs).
• Ensure that the energy and digital needs of the railway industry are integrated into long-term planning.
• Harmonise standards across the region to promote uniformity in rail services and infrastructure.

Dr. Sakanga, stressed that the master plan must be a long-term commitment—a plan that remains resilient to political changes. Railway infrastructure development requires consistent and sustained effort, and quick political solutions are not viable for such large-scale projects.

Railway Safety Management Systems: A Key Focus

Dr. Sakanga’s, presentation underscored the importance of railway safety management systems in ensuring that the region’s railway infrastructure is reliable and secure. Safety management systems encompass four key areas:

• Infrastructure readiness: Ensuring that rail infrastructure is safe by design and maintained properly. Much of the region’s infrastructure dates back to the colonial era, so ongoing maintenance and upgrading are essential.
• Human capital: SARA highlighted the importance of providing an inclusive working environment for all employees. Gender inclusivity and occupational safety and health policies must ensure that all employees feel safe and supported.
• Performance monitoring: Safety indicators, corporate financial targets, and productivity indices must be measured continuously to ensure that the railway industry meets its goals.
• Institutional capacity building: The existence of independent railway safety regulatory agencies, like the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) in South Africa, is vital to monitoring compliance with safety regulations. SARA advocates for similar regulatory bodies across the SADC region.

Achievements and Collaboration

Since its establishment in 1996, SARA has achieved several significant milestones in promoting railway safety and efficiency. One major development is the creation of the Railway Regulators Association of Southern Africa (RRASA), which enables railway safety regulators from countries like Zambia, Tanzania and Namibia to collaborate on joint inspections and regulatory harmonisation.

Additionally, SARA has established Risk and Safety Management Committees that bring together key stakeholders—including operators, manufacturers, suppliers, and customers—to share best practices and ensure continuous improvement in railway safety.

The Digital Transformation of Railways

The presentation also highlighted the importance of digital technology in improving the efficiency of rail services. SARA envisions a railway system where passengers and freight customers can have full visibility of their journeys and cargo. For freight customers, digital solutions ensure the safety and tracking of their goods as they move through the intermodal transport system.

The Southern Africa Railway Association (SARA) plays a crucial role in driving railway efficiency, safety, and regional cooperation across the SADC region. By advocating for the harmonisation of national policies, promoting cost-efficient innovations, and fostering collaboration among railway regulators, SARA is laying the groundwork for a modern, sustainable, and integrated railway network.

The upcoming SADC Railway Infrastructure Master Plan, alongside SARA’s continuous efforts to improve safety management systems, will be key to achieving long-term success for the region’s railway industry.

As Dr. Sakanga noted during the presentation, the SADC region’s railway industry must focus on inclusive growth, technological innovation, and strategic planning to ensure that the benefits of an efficient and safe railway network are fully realised across Southern Africa.