Cape Town engineer unveils vision for a new train line over unfinished freeway

A Cape Town development engineer has given the Cape Argus a bird’s eye view and taken the publication on a virtual tour of what the incomplete freeways could look like once completed, which includes the elevated freeway train, a proposal which he has made to the City of Cape Town.

Last week, the Cape Argus shared the story of the proposed 6km train line, which could connect key areas like City Centre and the Waterfront in under 10 minutes and integrate with the existing Prasa network.

This, Gareth Ramsay said, would utilise the foreshore’s 40 year old incomplete freeway, while the City said it would not be feasible.

He said it would be done by allowing Prasa to rent the land and to foot the cost of the operations.

Ramsay made the proposal to the City’s Urban Mobility in February, focusing on the development of Cape Town’s unfinished freeway and the Three Anchor Bay site.

This week he shared for the first time, the 3D imagery of what the railway would look like, and a visualisation video, which showed how the blue train moved from station to station in the CBD.

Background music and sounds set the tone, with a futurist glimpse into what the future could hold as the train is seen buzzing over the freeway, past the CTICC and moves onto the next station, placing an ease to the daily congestion in the CBD.

“The images were compiled and created by "JetJunky Builds Real World Cities (@jetjunky6760) YouTube Channel" (https://www.youtube.com/@jetjunky6760),” said Ramsay.

Ramsay shared that only he had permission to use them and was now showcasing it, hoping it would add more insight for the public participation and viewers.

“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. 

Prasa spokesperson, Zinobulali Mihi, said they were yet to be informed about the proposal.

“Kindly note that Prasa in the Western Cape is not aware of the suggested railway bridge,” Mihi said. 

“Physical Planning Studies are either commissioned by the City of Cape Town, Prasa and the Provincial Department of Mobility or jointly. At no point has there been any future indication of a need and desirability for this abandoned bridge to be used for passenger services.”

Ramsay proposes constructing an elevated train line from Woodstock to Sea Point, incorporating a terminus at the Three Anchor Bay site instead of solely developing it for mixed-use. 

The aim was to reduce car dependency, encourage public transport, and ease traffic congestion, while also providing better access to the city.

The bridge's design started in the 1960s, and construction halted in 1977 due to budget issues and a  2018 Request for Proposals was later cancelled due to legal advice.

Mayco member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas, said last week that implementing an elevated rail line was not a consideration and that they were focused on their MyCiTi project.

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The Urban Mobility Directorate’s proposed capital budget over the medium-term, starting on 1 July 2025 until 30 June 2028, amounts to over R7.9 billion.

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