Gibela Future Vision: Meeting the Needs of Passenger Rail on the African Continent
In this episode of Coffee with the Editor, filmed at Africa Rail 2025, Railways Africa Magazine speaks with Reggie Boqo, Acting CEO of Gibela Rail Transport Consortium, about how Gibela is positioning itself to meet the future needs of passenger rail on the African continent.
Gibela has just delivered its 280th trainset for South Africa’s passenger agency, PRASA and is on track to reach the 300 mark by the end of the year — a significant milestone for the company. As Reggie Boqo reflects on this achievement, he also explains how reaching the halfway point in Gibela’s delivery contract marks the beginning of a broader strategic shift.
Looking ahead, Gibela is aiming to expand beyond its domestic commitments to meet the growing demand for modern, efficient, and sustainable passenger rail systems across Africa.
Key topics in the conversation include:
- Flexible train production capabilities, able to respond to market needs, including differing gauges and non-electrified lines, with hybrid and diesel-electric options under consideration.
- The role of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in enabling cross-border mobility of people and goods through improved rail infrastructure.
- The importance of sustainable subsidies for passenger rail, and why rail should be viewed as an essential public service rather than a loss-making enterprise.
- Full lifecycle support, including depot operations and in-house component overhaul, to improve availability and reduce dependence on offshore repairs.
- Gibela’s commitment to youth employment, skills development, and localisation — with over R23 billion spent with local suppliers and above 70% local content.
- Innovative funding and leasing models being explored to support project bankability and make rolling stock more accessible to African governments.
Reggie positions Gibela as a world-class African manufacturer ready to scale its proven model beyond South Africa — providing not just trains, but long-term support, workforce development, and strategic advisory services to deliver sustainable rail systems continent-wide.
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