Southern African Railways Association (SARA) is a regional association that was established in 1996 with the purpose of advocating for fair competition between road and rail transportation. SARA primarily represents railways in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, along with major railway customers and suppliers, and other organizations with a vested interest in the railway industry.

SARA's main objective is to level the playing field between different surface transport modes, ensuring fair competition. They also focus on developing adequate capacity to meet demand and improving the operational efficiency of regional railways. By enforcing the User Pays Principle, SARA aims to create modal equity where the road sector pays for the full cost of infrastructure or support for railways by governments.

With a vision to be a leader in promoting trade, movement of goods and passengers, and social and economic growth in the SADC region and Africa as a whole, SARA strives to make rail transport the mode of choice. Guided by principles such as accountability, efficiency, innovation, and values like ethics, integrity, and professionalism, SARA works towards creating an environment where the railway industry excels.