Roads and Transport MEC Thobile Mhlahlo yesterday hosted three Dutch consultants who are to assist the department in a feasibility study on the use of the lines to attract private investors and operators.
While Spoornet will continue to operate the main railway lines, transport department rail chief director Nkululeko Poya said private operators were required to run some branch lines in the province.
Mhlahlo said the department was investigating the possibility of using all railway lines between East London and Port Elizabeth as an alternative mode of transport for both commuter and freight purposes.
According to Mhlahlo, refurbishing all the roads in the province would cost millions the department cannot afford at the moment. “Farmers want a quick, reliable mode of transport to take their goods to the harbour and we want to have our railways operating for them,” Mhlahlo said.

Poya said: “We are doing research to see how we can get the narrow gauge line up and running as soon as possible.”
Spoornet operations manager Tim Fox said all fresh produce from Port Elizabeth was transported by road and only citrus was transported by rail to the harbour.

“We also transport millions worth of manganese a year and we share half the market with roads in transporting cars,” Fox said.