[Image: Wikicommons]
Cape Town development engineer, Gareth Ramsay, got in touch with us following a recent article on the proposed development of the incomplete freeway in the Foreshore, which he hopes to develop into a 6km elevated train line, which could connect key areas like City Centre and the Waterfront in under 10 minutes and integrate with the existing Prasa network.
The city has since said the idea is “not being considered” and has doubled down on the MyCiti expansion as the answer to congestion and the lack of proper public transport into the CBD.
Ramsay, however, thinks the city is missing out on an ideal solution to its public transport and traffic woes, and has shared his proposal, along with a visualisation made by JetJunky Builds Real World Cities that shows what could be if the city looked beyond the MyCiti programme.
“If members of the public support this concept, they comment using the link, indicating that they support the idea that the Three Anchor Bay mixed-use development site should include provision for a trainline terminus to accommodate an elevated railway line from Woodstock to Sea Point,” he said.
1. Lack of Consideration for Elevated Rail Proposal
The city states that an elevated rail line “is not a consideration.” This implies the idea was dismissed without a proper feasibility study or formal evaluation.
Given the city’s commitment to innovation and the binary alternative of completing the foreshore freeways (currently under feasibility study), the rail proposal deserves a fair, evidence-based review.
2. Limitations of the MyCiTi Bus System
While supporting MyCiTi expansion, I argue that bus improvements have limits, especially in the CBD and Atlantic Seaboard where road capacity is maxed out. Projects like the Three Anchor Bay and Granger Bay developments will only worsen congestion.
MyCiTi buses, lacking dedicated BRT lanes in these dense areas, are often stuck in traffic like cars, making them less appealing than private vehicles. During major events, the bus system cannot meet demand, further exposing its limitations.
3. Efficiency and Capacity of Rail vs. Bus
Evacuating 2,400 people from the stadium would need 26 buses (26 drivers), causing delays. A single EMU train (1 driver) could move the same number in under 2 minutes.
Rail clearly offers superior efficiency for high-volume transport.
4. Cost vs. Long-Term Value
While rail projects require significant investment, so do road projects like the foreshore freeway completion, estimated at over R2.5–R3 billion. Unlike freeways, elevated rail could reduce congestion and provide long-term, sustainable benefits.
Funding options include selling high-value city land (e.g., Three Anchor Bay and unused foreshore land), potentially raising over R1.7 billion. As a PRASA-linked project, the national government would also share funding and operational responsibility.
5. Misplaced Concern Over Subsidies
Subsidies are common and justified by the broader economic and social benefits of rail systems—reduced commute times, improved mental health, and economic growth.
MyCiTi itself is subsidised and depends on volatile fuel prices, whereas electric rail is more stable and locally manageable.
6. Integration Misunderstood
The rail line would use the same track gauge and rolling stock as PRASA’s existing network, enabling seamless travel from areas like Simon’s Town to Sea Point without transfers. This avoids costly infrastructure changes or complex intermodal integration.
The elevated rail proposal addresses long-term transport needs that buses and freeway expansions cannot solve alone. It deserves a formal, detailed evaluation rather than premature dismissal.
Check out the full proposal here.
If you support the idea that the Three Anchor Bay Site should make provision for a train terminus, you can submit your comments here. It closes on 31 May.
[Source: IOL & Gareth Ramsay]
