Rail transport in Namibia

Railways in Namibia describes the provision of rail service as a mode of transportation in Namibia. Rail service in Namibia is provided by TransNamib. Namibia's rail network consists of 2,382 route-km of tracks, however this number continues to increase as the rail infrastructure continues to grow.Klausdierks [http://www.klausdierks.com/Namibia_Rail/2.htm Development of the Namibia Railway Network] Retrieved on July 3, 2007]

History

Early development

The building of Namibia first railways began with some small mining rail lines in 1895, but by 1897 when the German Colonial Authority launched the project to build the "Staatsbahn" (state railway) from Swakopmund to Windhoek. By 1902 the line was completed.Klausdierks [http://www.klausdierks.com/Namibia_Rail/2.htm Development of the Namibia Railway Network] Retrieved on July 3, 2007] The German colonial railway was taken over by the Railways of South Africa after World War I, and linked into the network of South Africa. After the independence of Namibia, TransNamib took control of the national rail network that operates on 1,067 mm narrow gauge.

African Rail Conference

Plans to integrate the railways of Africa to facilitate trade were discussed at the Africa Rail conference in Johannesburg, South Africa in August 2002. The move forms part of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), a programme aimed at economic renaissance.

The railways were built by former colonial powers, but were not built to advance African interests. Plans were put into place to link the three parallel east-west lines in Angola and to connect the Angolan network to that of Namibia and hence to South Africa.

The strategic positioning of Maputo rail and port infrastructure indicated that the network should be promoted as the primary corridor serving Zimbabwe, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Swaziland, and South Africa's Mpumalanga province.

South Africa's transport minister, Mr Abdulah Omar, said Africa needed to integrate its railway systems to form an internationally-competitive network. Experts said this could involve leasing locomotives and wagons, becoming involved as concessionaires and consultants, and participating in joint ventures. [Department of Transport - South Africa [http://www.dot.gov.za/comm-centre/sp/2002/sp0812.html The Fifth Annual Africa Rail Conference] Retrieved on May 20, 2007]

Expansion

In 2005, an 89km section of new Northern Railway from Tsumeb to Oshivelo was opened by President Sam Nujoma. Construction on the project's second phase, a 59km stretch from Ondangwa to Oshikango on the Angolan border at a cost of about N$329m, is scheduled to be completed by December 2007.

In phase 3, a 58km branch from Ondangwa to Oshakati is to be constructed at an estimated cost of N$220m, for completion in December 2008. In time there will be a connection from Oshikango to a point near Cassinga, on Angola's southern railway system. [Ministry of Trade & Industry [http://www.mti.gov.na/subpage.php?linkNo=72 Northern Railway Extension] Retrieved on June 29, 2007]

The proposed new railway line from Tsumeb to Ondangwa and on to Oshakati and Oshikango at the Angolan border forms an extension of the existing Namibian railway system. The new line is planned to be eventually linked to the Angolan railway system at a point near Cassinga/flagicon|Angola Chamutete on the branch from the southern system at flagicon|Angola Dongo.

See also

* Transport in Namibia

References

External links

* [http://www.transnamib.com.na/ TransNamib website]