The period after the discovery of gold was characterised by bitter conflict between British imperialism and nationalist resistance, supported by Portuguese interest in a competing railway between Transvaal and Delgoa Bay (now known as Maputo). This culminated in a war that broke out in 1899 which ended three years later with the defeat of the two republics. The four colonies were gathered into a loose union under British control. Disputes and other problems relating to agriculture, labour, racial conflicts, etc. led politicians to acknowledge that South Africa was an inseparable economic entity. Union was achieved in 1910. Railways and harbours were used to unify and develop the country for the benefit of its people. Rail developed rapidly resulting in more than 11,000 km track for both commuter and freight use nationally by 1910.

At that time the South African Railways and Harbours came into being and was responsible for the administration of all ports, harbours and railways. This was enacted through the South African Act (Act of Union) which virtually placed the railways under the direct control of parliament. However, the Act made it clear that railways were to be operated on business principles, albeit in accordance with the general policy of the government. For, example, the provision of cheap transport to the agricultural and industrial population within the interior of the four provinces.

Urbanisation of poor farmers whose homesteads and farms were completely ruined during the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1901 and people who during the Depression of 1929-1933 aggravated by the devastating invasion of locusts and malaria epidemic in Natal, sought work in the towns and all cities gave the first impetus for efficient suburban train services.

Periodic swings in the economy and large-scale industrial and commercial development in and around cities offered attractive job opportunities and attracted more people. Despite tight budgets, existing lines were built and longer train sets were used to meet the ever increasing demand by workers for commuter train services.

One century later, the (then) South African Railways had already established itself as the largest transport organisation on the African continent, providing rail transport to more than 274 million passengers on long distance and suburban routes annually. In 1960 the road transport capacity was 10 million passengers per annum.

In the 1970s urbanisation was taking place at a rate faster than the railways could handle its restricted resources and high enterprise approach in its operations. This pressure resulted in the South African Railways and Harbours changing its name to the South African Transport Services (SATS) in 1981 and restructuring itself to run along business lines.

The first steam locomotive and its coach that completed the 3.2 km stretch between Market Square and the Customs Point in Durban had an honoured place at the old Durban station. Later the steam locomotive was moved to the new Berea Road Station when it was opened during the late seventies.

During 1978-9 SATS conveyed nearly 500 million commuters but, due to political unrest in the late '80s and early '90s as well as an increase in competition, the market share for rail declined.  Read More...