The Cacadu district and Makana municipalities have announced a bold plan to resuscitate railway links between Grahamstown and Alicedale as well as between Grahamstown and Port Alfred.

The Makana municipality, which is spearheading the development, announced it was in talks with Transnet and the provincial transport department to set a plan to promote railway tourism.

Makana Mayor Phumelelo Kate said the resuscitation of railway links was aimed at creating employment.

Although the Alicedale route was prioritised by the provincial department, there was a need to integrate efforts with neighbouring municipalities like Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City, Chris Hani and Amatole, said Kate.

Provincial transport spokesman Ncedo Kumbaca said the revival of the railway links was in line with strategic plans to add value to tourism and address transport issues.

"MEC Thobile Mhlahlo will be hosting a conference which will reveal plans to resuscitate railways links in the province," said Kumbaca.

Meanwhile, Makana's economic development officer, Cecil Nduna, said: "The plan entails increasing the daily number of trains traveling between Grahamstown and Alicedale, and conducting feasibility studies for the reopening of the railway line from Grahamstown to Port Alfred, which was closed 10 vears ago."

He said the Makana and the provincial departments had prioritised the revival of the railway link in and around Grahamstown as a key component to be part of the department's 10 year rail plan.

"Increasing service frequency between Grahamstown and Alicedale will allow day trips for tourists from Grahamstown to Alicedale and back," said Nduna.

"Makana municipality believes this link should also be prioritised primarily as a tourism route and as a form of transportation for local residents."

Cacadu district municipality development manager Duma Magxwalisa said: "Railway tourism is increasingly being sought after as an important pail of local economic development programmes."

He said employment would be created.