The South African railway sector continues to lag behind in digital maturity compared to other industries due to limiting operational efficiencies and competitiveness. This study assesses the digital tools currently being used in the railway sector and their effectiveness and barriers to digital adoption among railway professionals. A survey of 45 respondents, predominantly Engineering managers, revealed that, among the five digital tools assessed, the Internet of Things is the most familiar, followed by big data and analytics. In contrast, digital twins showed least familiarity. Respondents rated the tools as most effective for decision-making and stakeholder collaboration but less effective for cost reduction. The key barriers included governance issues (rigid hierarchy and bureaucracy) and resources and funding constraints (insufficient budget, inadequate IT infrastructure, and skills retention), which rated high severity. The study recommends prioritizing digital skills training programs, developing a clear digital strategy, and improving collaboration, while the respondents endorse greater use of big data & analytics and Artificial intelligence. The findings provide a practical insight into bridging gap in South African railways through phasing the interventions to ease the cost burden.

Keywords

Digital Transformation, Digital Tools, Barriers, Railways, Projects