Botswana Railways
Encyclopedia
Botswana Railways is the national railway of Botswana
.
(NRZ). NRZ had been initially operating the rail system after Botswana had gained independence.
Management of the BR is supported by RITES Ltd.
of India
.
The opening of the Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway
in Zimbabwe in 1999 resulted in a major drop in the volume of freight transit and income. As a response the BR has been considering the construction of a direct line to Zambia
(Zambia Railways
), bypassing Zimbabwe, to regain income from transit.
On 27 February 2009, an announcement was made of the termination of all Botswana Railways passenger services. However, passenger trains run by National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) continue to run from Bulawayo
to Lobatse via Plumtree
, Francistown
and Gaborone
.
As of October 2010, BR was building a large shopping mall
near Gaborone station, and expressed hopes that passenger services might resume, although BR could not give any concrete details.
-Francistown –Gaborone-border to South Africa
(Spoornet
). In addition, two branch lines exist.
There is no direct connection with Namibia
, but one does exist via South Africa, although an electrified railway connecting to Lüderitz, Namibia for coal traffic is/was scheduled to open in 2006.
In August 2010, Mozambique
and Botswana signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a 1100 km railway through Zimbabwe
, to carry coal from Serule
in Botswana to a deep-water port at Techobanine Point in Mozambique.
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
.
History
BR was created in 1987 when the government of Botswana bought out the Botswana-based sections of the National Railways of ZimbabweNational Railways of Zimbabwe
The National Railways of Zimbabwe is the parastatal railway of Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe railway system was largely constructed during the time of British colonial rule, and part of it represents a segment of the Cape-Cairo railway...
(NRZ). NRZ had been initially operating the rail system after Botswana had gained independence.
Management of the BR is supported by RITES Ltd.
RITES Ltd.
RITES Limited is an engineering consultancy company, specializing in the field of transport infrastructure. Established in 1974 by the Government of India, the company's initial charter was to provide consultancy services in rail transport management to operators in India and abroad...
of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
The opening of the Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway
Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway
The Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway is a privately owned railway company that provides a rail link in Zimbabwe between Beitbridge at the border to South Africa and Zimbabwe's second city Bulawayo....
in Zimbabwe in 1999 resulted in a major drop in the volume of freight transit and income. As a response the BR has been considering the construction of a direct line to Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
(Zambia Railways
Zambia Railways
Zambia Railways is the national railway of Zambia, one of the two major railroad organizations in Zambia, which may also be referred to as Railway Systems of Zambia...
), bypassing Zimbabwe, to regain income from transit.
On 27 February 2009, an announcement was made of the termination of all Botswana Railways passenger services. However, passenger trains run by National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) continue to run from Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
to Lobatse via Plumtree
Plumtree, Zimbabwe
Plumtree, Zimbabwe is a town in Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe, close to the border to Botswana. It is the local administrative centre. It sits at an altitude of 1280 metres on the watershed between the Limpopo river and the Nata river that drains into Okavango to the north. The annual rainfall is...
, Francistown
Francistown
Francistown or Nyangabgwe is the second largest city in Botswana, with a population of about 85,363, and often described as the "Capital of the North". It is located in eastern Botswana, about north-northeast from the capital, Gaborone...
and Gaborone
Gaborone
' is the capital and largest city of Botswana with a population of 191,776 based on a 2006 survey, about 10% of the total population of Botswana....
.
As of October 2010, BR was building a large shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
near Gaborone station, and expressed hopes that passenger services might resume, although BR could not give any concrete details.
Network
BR’s system maintains 888 km of narrow gauge track that runs essentially along its south-east section connecting the border of ZimbabweZimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
-Francistown –Gaborone-border to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
(Spoornet
Spoornet
Transnet Freight Rail is a South African rail transport company, formerly known as Spoornet. It was part of 'South African Railways and Harbours', a state-controlled organisation that employed hundreds of thousands of people for decades from the first half of the 20th century and was widely...
). In addition, two branch lines exist.
- Main Line - 640 km
- Francistown to Sua Pan (branch line) - 174.5 km
- Palapye to Morupule Colliery (branch line) - 16 km
- Private Sidings - 50 km
- Service Sidings - 20 km
- Station Yards - 30 km
- Crossing Loops - 20 km
Major stations
- (Plumtree, ZimbabwePlumtree, ZimbabwePlumtree, Zimbabwe is a town in Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe, close to the border to Botswana. It is the local administrative centre. It sits at an altitude of 1280 metres on the watershed between the Limpopo river and the Nata river that drains into Okavango to the north. The annual rainfall is...
) - RamokgwebanaRamokgwebanaRamokgwebana is a town in the North-East District of Botswana, close to the eastern border. On the other side is Plumtree, Zimbabwe. The town lies on the railway connection between Francistown and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe....
- FrancistownFrancistownFrancistown or Nyangabgwe is the second largest city in Botswana, with a population of about 85,363, and often described as the "Capital of the North". It is located in eastern Botswana, about north-northeast from the capital, Gaborone...
- SowaSowa, BotswanaSowa is a town which lies in the Central District of Botswana, but constitutes a separate administrative district. The Sowa Township was established in 1991 by an act of Parliament, Statutory Instrument No.26 of 1991 and governed by Sowa Township Regulations, 1991 under the Township Act...
- Sowa
- SeruleSeruleSerule is a village in Central District of Botswana. Serule, with a latitude of -21.95 and a longitude of 27.3 , is a streets, highways, roads, or railroad...
- Selibe Phikwe
- PalapyePalapyePalapye is a large town in Botswana, situated about halfway between Francistown and Gaborone . Over the years its position has made it a convenient stopover on one of Southern Africa's principal north–south rail and road routes...
- GaboroneGaborone' is the capital and largest city of Botswana with a population of 191,776 based on a 2006 survey, about 10% of the total population of Botswana....
- Lobatse
- Ramatlhabama
- (Mafeking, South Africa)
Locomotives
As of March 2009- 8 General Electric UM 22C diesel-electric locomotives, 1982
- 20 General Motors Model GT22LC-2 diesel electric locomotives, 1986
- 10 General Electric U15C diesel electric locomotives, 1990
Railway links to adjacent countries
- Zimbabwe - Same gauge
- South AfricaRail transport in South AfricaRail transport in South Africa is the most important element of the country's transport infrastructure. All major cities are connected by rail, and South Africa's railway system is the most highly developed in Africa...
- Same gauge
There is no direct connection with Namibia
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...
, but one does exist via South Africa, although an electrified railway connecting to Lüderitz, Namibia for coal traffic is/was scheduled to open in 2006.
In August 2010, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
and Botswana signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a 1100 km railway through Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, to carry coal from Serule
Serule
Serule is a village in Central District of Botswana. Serule, with a latitude of -21.95 and a longitude of 27.3 , is a streets, highways, roads, or railroad...
in Botswana to a deep-water port at Techobanine Point in Mozambique.
