Rail transport in Namibia
Encyclopedia
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.
railways began with a small mining rail line at Cape Cross
in 1895. The first major railway project was started in 1897 when the German Colonial Authority
build the "Staatsbahn" (state railway) from Swakopmund
to Windhoek
. By 1902 the line was completed. Parallel to this government initiative the Otavi Mining and Railway Company
(O.M.E.G.) was established which built a line from Swakopmund to Tsumeb
via Otavi
between 1903 and 1906, and a branch from Otavi to Grootfontein
in 1907/08.
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.
, 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 venture
s.
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, was scheduled to be completed by December 2007. Ondagua Station opened in 2006 for freight.
In phase 3, a 58km branch from Ondangwa to Oshakati
is being 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. On the branch from the southern system at Dongo
(
). The railway to Lüderitz
is being rehabilitated with Chinese help though there were some financial problems finishing the last 47km in early 2009.
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
. Rail service in Namibia is provided by TransNamib
TransNamib
TransNamib is the railway parastatal of Namibia. Organised as a holding company, it provides freight by rail and road as well as passenger services. Its administration is located in Windhoek.-History:...
. 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.
Early development
The building of German South-West AfricaGerman South-West Africa
German South West Africa was a colony of Germany from 1884 until 1915, when it was taken over by South Africa and administered as South West Africa, finally becoming Namibia in 1990...
railways began with a small mining rail line at Cape Cross
Cape Cross
Cape Cross is a cape in the South Atlantic on the coast of Namibia, on the C34 highway some 60 kilometres north of Hentiesbaai and 120 km north of Swakopmund on the west coast of Namibia....
in 1895. The first major railway project was started in 1897 when the German Colonial Authority
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
build the "Staatsbahn" (state railway) from Swakopmund
Swakopmund
Swakopmund is a city on the coast of northwestern Namibia, west of Windhoek, Namibia's capital. It is the capital of the Erongo administrative district. As a seaside resort, the weather is cooler here in December to January so the territorial administration moves to Swakopmund for these months...
to Windhoek
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
. By 1902 the line was completed. Parallel to this government initiative the Otavi Mining and Railway Company
Otavi Mining and Railway Company
The Otavi Mining and Railway Company was a railway and mining company in German South-West Africa...
(O.M.E.G.) was established which built a line from Swakopmund to Tsumeb
Tsumeb
Tsumeb is a city of 15,000 inhabitants and the largest town in Oshikoto region in northern Namibia. Tsumeb is the home of the world-famous Tsumeb mine, and the "gateway to the north" of Namibia. It is the closest town to the Etosha National Park...
via Otavi
Otavi
Otavi is a town of 4,000 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of central Namibia. It is the district capital of the Otavi electoral constituency. Most of the area is dolomitic and the district was in the past renowned for its mineral wealth...
between 1903 and 1906, and a branch from Otavi to Grootfontein
Grootfontein
Grootfontein is a city of 14,200 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of central Namibia. It is one of the three towns in the Otavi Triangle, situated on the B8 national road that leads from Windhoek to the Caprivi Strip...
in 1907/08.
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 JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, 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...
in August 2002. The move forms part of the New Partnership for Africa's Development
New Partnership for Africa's Development
The New Partnership for Africa's Development is an economic development program of the African Union. NEPAD was adopted at the 37th session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in July 2001 in Lusaka, Zambia...
(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
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and to connect the Angolan network to that of Namibia and hence to South Africa.
The strategic positioning of Maputo
Maputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
rail and port infrastructure indicated that the network should be promoted as the primary corridor serving 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...
, 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....
, Democratic Republic of Congo, Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
, and South Africa's Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga , is a province of South Africa. The name means east or literally "the place where the sun rises" in Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, north of KwaZulu-Natal and bordering Swaziland and Mozambique. It constitutes 6.5% of South Africa's land area...
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 venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
s.
Expansion
In 2005, an 89km section of new Northern Railway from TsumebTsumeb
Tsumeb is a city of 15,000 inhabitants and the largest town in Oshikoto region in northern Namibia. Tsumeb is the home of the world-famous Tsumeb mine, and the "gateway to the north" of Namibia. It is the closest town to the Etosha National Park...
to Oshivelo
Oshivelo
- History :In early 2005, the first stage of the new Northern Railway was opened from Tsumeb, this section being 89km long. The next section runs to Oshikango near the Angolan border. The next section to be built may be to the iron ore mines at Cassinga....
was opened by President Sam Nujoma
Sam Nujoma
Samuel Daniel Shafiishuna Nujoma is a Namibian politician who was the first President of Namibia from 1990 to 2005. He led the South-West Africa People's Organisation in its long struggle against South African rule and took office as President when Namibia obtained independence on 21 March 1990...
. Construction on the project's second phase, a 59km stretch from Ondangwa to Oshikango
Oshikango
Oshikango is a village in northern Namibia and a border post to Angola. Since 2004 it is part of the town of Helao Nafidi but still maintains its own village council. It is the district capital of the Oshikango Constituency...
on the Angolan border at a cost of about N$329m, was scheduled to be completed by December 2007. Ondagua Station opened in 2006 for freight.
In phase 3, a 58km branch from Ondangwa to Oshakati
Oshakati
Oshakati is a town of 30,000 inhabitants in the Oshana Region of Namibia. It is the regional capital and was officially founded in July 1966. The city was used as a base of operations by the South African Defence Force during the South African Border War and Namibian War of Independence...
is being constructed at an estimated cost of N$220m, for completion in December 2008. In time there will be a connection from Oshikango
Oshikango
Oshikango is a village in northern Namibia and a border post to Angola. Since 2004 it is part of the town of Helao Nafidi but still maintains its own village council. It is the district capital of the Oshikango Constituency...
to a point near Cassinga
Cassinga
Cassinga is a former town in the Huíla province of southern Angola.The transliteration Kassinga is also commonly used, with the "K" being a mutation of the original Portuguese name either by German miners, or by indigenous people in whose language the letter "K" is also common...
, on Angola
Transport in Angola
- Railways :There are three separate railway lines in Angola:* Luanda Railway * Benguela Railway * Moçâmedes Railway - Highways :* total: 52,429 km* paved: 5,349 km* unpaved: 46,080 km...
's southern railway system. On the branch from the southern system at Dongo
Dongo
Dongo is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy. It lies on the northwestern shore of Lake Como between Gravedona and Musso at the mouth of the Albano...
(
). The railway to LüderitzLüderitz
Lüderitz is a harbour town in south-west Namibia, lying on one of the least hospitable coasts in Africa. It is a port developed around Robert Harbour and Shark Island.- Overview :...
is being rehabilitated with Chinese help though there were some financial problems finishing the last 47km in early 2009.