FAQs

In instances where the safety of passengers or communities is compromised, the RSR may intervene with measures such as lowering speed limits or removing rail cars from the network.

Such measures are always taken when there is a clear safety need to do so. We weigh up the potential for inconvenience to commuters, and intervene only if there are hazards to passengers or communities.

Please report any criminal activity to the police. If you witness a crime or are the victim of criminal activity, the police must be informed so that they can investigate. You can contact the police by calling 10111 or report the incident at any police station.

The RSR is a regulatory body. We do not own or maintain the rail network, nor do we operate any rail services.

Please visit our careers page to search and apply for vacancies.

The RSR’s mandate is set down in the National Railway Safety Regulator Act 16 of 2002 (as amended). The Act recognises that “safe railway operations are fundamental to the safety of all persons and the environment”.

Legislation forbids anyone from operating on the railway network without a safety permit issued by the RSR.

The RSR’s mandate cover all railway operations, including passenger and freight rail.

The RSR is committed to addressing all railway conditions that pose a hazard, including railway conditions dangerous to pedestrians or communities living near railways.

The RSR’s mandate covers railway operations across all of South Africa. That includes operators in the SADC region whose trains enter South Africa.

Our expert inspection team travel the length and breadth of the country to examine the state of the rail network and investigate railway incidents.

We look to discover the root causes of incidents, so we can take action to prevent them from happening again.

The RSR is mandated to issue warnings to operators that fail to adhere to the highest safety standards. In cases where public safety is put at risk, the RSR may even suspend railway operations.