Date:   26- 29 August 2025

Location: Johannesburg

Southern African Railways Association (SARA) Rail Conference & Exhibition 2025

Dates: 26–29 August 2025

Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa

Theme: Transporting Africa Forward: Accelerating Rail Growth to Boost Mobility and Economic  Opportunity Across Africa

The SARA Rail Conference & Exhibition 2025, organised by the Southern African Railways Association

(SARA), will take place from 26 to 29 August 2025 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg,

South Africa. Now in its 14th edition, the conference has established itself as the leading platform for

promoting railway development and integrated transport systems across the Southern African

Development Community (SADC) region.

Under the theme “Transporting Africa Forward: Accelerating Rail Growth to Boost Mobility and Economic

Opportunity Across Africa,” this year’s edition will spotlight the critical role of rail in transforming Africa’s

trade, connectivity, and socio-economic landscape.

This high-level event will bring together Ministers of Transport, railway CEOs, infrastructure investors,

logistics operators, and transport policy experts from across Africa and beyond to engage in strategic

dialogue and shape the future of railway transport on the continent.

Highlights of the Event:

• Ministerial Panel Discussions: Top government leaders from the SADC region will address regional

infrastructure integration, investment frameworks, and the policy environment needed to unlock

the potential of Africa’s railway corridors.

• Breakaway Sessions: Two days of in-depth technical sessions will focus on priority areas such as

digital transformation in rail, corridor development, rail safety, climate resilience, rolling stock

upgrades, and skills development.

• Exhibition Showcase: With over 100 exhibitors, the exhibition floor will be a hub of innovation

featuring the latest technologies in railway systems, signalling, rolling stock, engineering solutions,

and investment-ready projects.

• Networking and B2B Matchmaking: With more than 1,000 participants expected, the event offers

unmatched networking opportunities for professionals in transport, logistics, infrastructure, and

investment to connect and collaborate.

A key focus of the 2025 edition is the development of strategic rail corridors such as which are vital

arteries for trade, industrialization, and intra-African mobility. These corridors also align with wider

continental ambitions under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of Africa’s leading rail and transport even

For more information: http://www.sararailconference.com