In line with the restructuring of Union of Africa Railways (UAR), SARA became the first regional body to be a member of UAR in November 2007. The role of SARA and that of UAR are tabled below. As a member of UAR, SARA will realise some benefits as tabled below from the International Union of Railways (UIC).
a) SARA will continue with its agenda of regional railway integration through
- The provision of a seamless, cost-effective, and safe transport service.
- Standardisation of infrastructure, rolling stock, locomotives, and corridor train designs.
- Development and maintenance of the regional database.
- Regional Training and Development.
- Lobby governments and influence legislation relevant to the region.
- Coordination of donor funds on behalf of the regional railways.
- Follow up with governments at regional level on the progress of implementation of agreed interventions such as investment commitments in railway infrastructure, the levelling of the playing field for transport modes.
b) UAR on the other hand will play the role of establishing the framework for continental railway integration
- Identification of value-adding inter-regional connectivity for the five designated Regional Railway Organisations (RRO), i.e. Northern Africa, Southern Africa, Eastern Africa, Western Africa and Central Africa in order to achieve an economically integrated Africa.
- Provide backbone connectivity for the regional databases.
- Generic Training and Development.
- Coordination of NEPAD initiatives and research of universal benefit to the RROs.
- Mechanism for direct engagement with the AU Committee of Ministers responsible for railways in order to influence the policy framework.
- Mechanism for engaging multilateral donors such as UN, EU, ADB, World Bank etc.
c) UIC, being an intercontinental body will bring value to SARA in the following areas
- Benefits from high level Research and Development and SARA will not have to re-invent the wheel.
- New technologies
- Connectivity to continental databases.
- Training and Development including exchange programmes.
