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South Africa is finally on track to launch its first-ever high-speed bullet train, with construction expected to begin in late 2026 and the first trains rolling out by 2030.
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As reported by Top Auto, the Department of Transport—alongside the Gauteng and Limpopo provincial governments—has confirmed progress on the long-awaited Limpopo-Gauteng Speed Train project.
The new 500km rail line will connect Pretoria to Musina in Limpopo, with stops in Hammanskraal, Bela-Bela, Mokopane, Polokwane, and Louis Trichardt. The initial phase will focus on the stretch between Pretoria and Polokwane—cutting current road travel times by nearly an hour. At roughly 265km, this leg will take just 90 minutes by train compared to up to three hours by car on the N1.
While the proposed average speed of 177km/h falls slightly short of typical high-speed rail (HSR) benchmarks, the train is expected to surpass 200km/h on certain sections—technically qualifying it as a bullet train.
This flagship project is being developed alongside the planned Phase 2 expansion of Gautrain, which will grow the network from 80km to 230km. The HSR master plan is expected to be finalised by the end of 2025, although timelines remain flexible.
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