As South Africa continues to invest in the revitalisation and modernisation of its rail infrastructure, safety remains a non-negotiable pillar of progress. The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR), the body mandated to oversee and promote safe railway operations across the country, has sharpened its focus on forward-looking strategies that go beyond compliance, embracing a more proactive, data-driven approach to railway safety. The 2024/2025 State of Safety Report provides not just a snapshot of current performance, but a strategic outlook on the future of rail safety in South Africa.

The report reveals that the rail industry continues to grapple with a range of safety challenges, particularly operational occurrences and security-related incidents. These events provide deep insights into recurring patterns and chronic risks that could compromise the reliability and resilience of the country’s rail system. However, the RSR has adopted a systematic approach to addressing these risks by delving into the underlying causes of incidents. This is achieved through a combination of detailed investigations, targeted inspections and rigorous audits, all of which serve to uncover root causes rather than merely addressing surface-level symptoms.

By identifying emerging hazards early, the RSR enables the sector to take pre-emptive action before incidents escalate. This form of intelligent risk management supports the broader objective of transitioning from a reactive to a preventative safety culture. Insights gained through investigations help refine safety standards and policies, ensuring that interventions remain relevant and effective in an evolving transport environment.

A critical pillar of this strategy is the review and regulation of new rail works and technologies. As rail operators integrate innovations such as automated systems, upgraded signalling technologies and new infrastructure projects, the RSR’s role becomes crucial in ensuring that these advancements do not inadvertently introduce new safety threats. Through its New Works and Technology Development review process, the Regulator ensures that all projects adhere to stringent safety standards from the outset. This supports the safe rollout of new solutions and encourages innovation within a framework of accountability and risk awareness.

Ensuring that operators meet and maintain safety standards is another core function of the RSR. Through its Safety Permit regime, the Regulator issues legal authorisation to operators who demonstrate that they have met the minimum requirements for safe railway operations. A safety permit is more than a regulatory checkbox, it confirms that an operator is competent, responsible and equipped with a functional Safety Management System. To uphold these standards, the RSR conducts ongoing assessments, which detail each operator’s strategy for continuous safety improvement. This ongoing evaluation process fosters a culture where safety is not treated as a one-off milestone, but as an integral, evolving component of railway operations.

The RSR also recognises that safety and security are intrinsically linked. It is difficult to ensure safe operations in an environment vulnerable to theft, vandalism and malicious damage incidents which continue to plague certain sections of the rail network. In response, the RSR has elevated security within its safety mandate. Security issues are now formalised as a recurring agenda item in meetings with operators, and the RSR actively supports inter-agency collaboration through platforms such as the National Rail Crime Combating Forum. These engagements aim to strengthen cooperation between rail operators, the South African Police Service and other key stakeholders, enabling a more coordinated response to crime and vandalism within the rail environment.

In line with this, the implementation of the Railway Safety and Security Regulations, signed into law in 2022, further entrenches minimum safety and security requirements across the industry. These regulations require operators to protect not only physical assets and infrastructure, but also the passengers and personnel who rely on the rail system daily; including vulnerable groups and individuals with special needs. The RSR continues to monitor compliance through regular audits and inspections, reinforcing the expectation that safety must extend to every element of the railway ecosystem.

These initiatives reflect the RSR’s shift toward seeing safety as a shared responsibility and a driver of growth. As public transport becomes central to economic and environmental goals, a safe railway system is essential. Looking to the future, the RSR remains committed to strengthening its oversight and fostering a railway environment defined by innovation, resilience and operational excellence. Through smarter regulation, collaborative partnerships and relentless attention to emerging risks, the Regulator is paving the way for a railway system that South Africa can trust, not just today, but for generations to come. For more on how the RSR is shaping the future of rail safety, visit www.rsr.org.za