The Rail Sector is involved in the transport of goods, passengers and livestock by rail, in the control, management, accomplishment, maintenance and exploitation of railways and rail services; and in the maintenance, servicing, repair, overhaul and testing of locomotives and rolling stock.  The industry employs 46434 employees, with the majority of the workforce in the service, sales, artisan and related trade categories.

• South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU)
• United Transport Allied Trade Union (UTATU)

Capacity in the sector annually handles 176 million tons of rail freight, 194 million tons of freight through the ports, provides 467 million rail commuter trips.  At the same time 15,3 billion liquid fuels and 466 million cubic metres of gas are pumped through it’s pipelines.  Transnet Rail Engineering is a specialist supplier to Transnet Freight Rail of refurbished locomotives, rolling stock and associated components with its annual production which includes the manufacture, conversion or upgrading of some 150 locomotives, 11000 rail wagons; 300 coaches and 52000 wheels.  Plasserail is manufacture of heavy on-track mechanised maintenance machinery.  Plasserail has machines working across Southern Africa on the rail network of Transnet Freight Rail, SARCC Metrorail and various other private networks.

Capacities of this nature necessitate the development of critical rail-service related competences.  In this regard the Rail Chamber provides the leverage to achieve these competences, by supporting and facilitating the implementation of relevant skills development initiatives within the sector.

• Diesel Electrical Fitter
• Electrical fitter
• Electrician
• Turner and Machinist
• Blacksmith
• Boilermaker
• Welder (Rolling Stock)
• Electrician (Armature Winding)
• Plater
• Fitter
• Fitter and Turner
• Fitter and Turner (Rolling Stock)
• Millwright
• Motor Vehicle Body Repair
• Patternmaker
• Sheet Metal Worker
• Toolmaker
• Vehicle Builder
• Wagon Fitter