Construction of the ZAR50 billion inland Port of Gauteng is scheduled to get under way in 2027.

Engineering News reports that the private-sector initiative is being developed by NT55 Investments, which owns a large portion of the 1 400 hectares of designated land at the junction of the Container Rail Corridor and the N3, N12 and N17 highways, south of Johannesburg.

According to Businesstech, it is hoped the port will relieve pressure on the Durban–Gauteng Freight Corridor, which carries the bulk of the country’s imports and exports.

The development, outlined in a white paper released by NT55, will include two 2.2 km flat rail alignments for container handling, a container rail terminal and a car terminal designed to handle high volumes. Other planned features include solar power, rainwater harvesting and recycling systems.

It is expected to accommodate increased freight volumes driven by the booming global e-commerce industry.

The logistics industry has responded positively to the development. ‘It provides the missing link that makes rail competitive again. With purpose-built rail alignments and future three-hour turnaround times at the container and car terminals, we can finally deliver the reliability that shippers demand,’ says Mike Daniel, CEO of RailRunner South Africa.

In a bid to reduce the number of trucks on the N3, performance-based standard (PBS) vehicles will be employed. PBS vehicles feature a truck and trailer combination that is designed to carry two shipping containers at a time.

‘Port of Gauteng’s integration of PBS vehicles represents the most significant advancement in heavy vehicle transport efficiency we’ve seen in decades, reducing truck movements by up to 40% and improving safety outcomes on our most critical trade corridor,’ according to Paul Nordengen, a director at Heavy Vehicle Transport Technology Africa.

Moneyweb reports that the facility is expected to create 50 000 jobs and construction will get under way in 2027.

7 October 2025
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