section_path: Infrastructure/Railways
section_name: Railways
paragraph_text: Railways
  
  Rail transport in South Africa is an important element of the country's transport infrastructure. All major cities are connected by rail. Transnet Freight Rail mainly operates freight services while PRASA operates commuter services. State-owned utility Transnet Freight Rail is the largest freight rail transport operator on the African continent, the company maintains a rail network of approximately 31,000 kilometres but only 20,900 kilometres of this are in use.
  
  South Africa's railway system is the most developed and largest in Africa as well as the 13th largest in the world; however, vandalism, theft, and underinvestment has left left the overall condition of the majority of networks in a poor state. Freight, passenger and port capacity shortages remain a severe constraint in domestic and regional trade. Coal and iron ore are mainly transported on these lines. The country's rail network carried nearly 230 million tons of freight in 2017; however, this has declined to 179 million tons in 2021, and it is likely that efforts will be made to revitalize the these transport sectors through private sector partnerships.