Rail transport in Namibia

{{main|History of rail transport in Namibia}}

File:SAR Class 33 Namibia.jpg locomotives SAR Class 33-400 in Keetmanshoop.]]

The building of German South West Africa{{'s}} 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 built 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.{{citation

|title=The Development of the Namibia Railway Network

|chapter=The German Period 1895–1915

|last=Dierks

|first=Klaus

|author-link=Klaus Dierks

|url=http://www.klausdierks.com/Namibia_Rail/2.htm

|access-date=3 July 2007}}

In 1914 the following railway lines existed:

• The Cape Cross line, 2 feet 6 inch gauge; 13 miles long, built by George Gale, General Foreman in the Harbour Department at Durban using 18 lbs per yard rails
• The German State Railways, 3 feet 6 inch gauge; 870 miles long
• The German State Railways, 2 feet gauge; 120 miles long
• The Otavi Railway, 2 feet gauge; 418 miles long
• The Walvis Bay Railway, 2 feet 6 inches gauge; about 11 miles long
• Several other 2 feet gauge branch lines to mines at Khan, Kalkfelt and OutjoA.J. Beaton: [https://hdl.handle.net/10520/AJA10212019_15119 Notes on railway construction during the 1914-15 campaign in German South-West Africa.] Civil Engineering (Siviele Ingenieurswese), Vol 1916, No 1.

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 {{RailGauge|3ft6in|lk=on|al=on}}.

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, Eswatini, and South Africa's Mpumalanga province.

South Africa's transport minister, 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] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928044112/http://www.dot.gov.za/comm-centre/sp/2002/sp0812.html |date=2007-09-28 }} Retrieved on May 20, 2007

{{TransNamib RDT}}

Namibia's national rail network operates on {{RailGauge|3ft6in|lk=on|al=on}}.

The railway line from Windhoek to Kranzberg is {{Convert|210|km}} long and was completed in 1902.

• Windhoek - capital - junction
• Okahandja
• Karibib - proposed cement works
• Kranzberg - junction Tsumeb v Windhoek.

The railway line from Kranzberg to Walvis Bay is {{Convert|201|km}} long. The section between Kranzberg and Swakopmund was completed in 1902. In 1914 an extension to Walvis Bay was commissioned; the rails were laid close to the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. In 1980 this extension was replaced by an alternative route behind the dunes that allowed for higher axle load.

• Kranzberg - junction Tsumeb v Windhoek.
• Usakos
• Arandis - crossing loop
• Swakopmund
• Walvis Bay - port

The railway line from Kranzberg to Otavi is {{Convert|328|km}} long and was completed in 1906.

• Kranzberg - junction Tsumeb v Windhoek.
• Omaruru
• Kalkfeld - short siding
• Otjiwarongo - junction for Outjo
• Otavi

The railway line from Otavi to Grootfontein is {{Convert|91|km}} long and was completed in 1908.

• Otavi - junction for Grootfontein
• Grootfontein - branch terminus.

The railway line from Seeheim to Lüderitz is {{Convert|318|km}} long. The connection between Lüderitz and Aus was completed in 1906, and the extension to Seeheim was completed in 1908. The service between Aus and Lüderitz was decommissioned in 1997, due to poor track condition, and there is no regular passenger service between Seeheim and Aus.

The line to Lüderitz was rehabilitated in the 2010s and was scheduled for reopening in 2017. Test trains ran to Lüderitz in 2014 and Lüderitz Harbour in 2018.{{cite news |last1=Abraham |first1=Tuulikki |title=Train arrives in Lüderitz on durability test mission |url=https://neweralive.na/posts/train-arrives-in-luderitz-on-durability-test-mission |access-date=2021-04-06 |work=New Era |date=2018-10-19}}

Ferrocarril Swakopmund-Walvis Bay, Namibia, 2018-08-05, DD 03.jpg|Train on the Swakopmund-Walvis Bay route

Railwaystation Simplon.jpg|The remains of Simplon railway station, between Sandverhaar and Goageb

Draisine Namibia.jpg|A Luxrailer inspection car passing Simplon station on its way from Seeheim to Aus (25 April 2017)

Bahn Sand.jpg|Track from Swakopmund to Walvis Bay covered by sand
{{Coord|22|47|17|S|014|35|20|E|display=inline}}

Railways Kolmanskuppe.jpg|New track near Kolmanskop (October 2015)

TransNamib near Kolmanskop.jpg|Train near Kolmanskop in 2019

The railway line from Nakop to Windhoek is {{Convert|869|km}} long. The section between Karasburg and Keetmanshoop was completed in 1909. In 1912 the {{Convert|500|km}} connection between Karasburg and Windhoek was completed, and the extension to Upington (South Africa) was built in 1915.

• {{Flagicon|South Africa}} Upington
• {{Flagicon|Namibia}} {{Flagicon|South Africa}} Nakop border
• Karasburg
• Keetmanshoop
• Tses
• Rehoboth
• Windhoek - capital - junction

The railway line from Otjiwarongo to Outjo is {{Convert|69|km}} long. The first {{Convert|26|km}} were completed under the German colonial administration in 1914/1915; the railway line was named Amboland Railway in reference to the territory of the Ovambo people. The link to Outjo was completed in 1921 under South African rule.

• Otjiwarongo - junction for Outjo
• Outjo - railhead

The railway line from Windhoek to Gobabis is {{Convert|228|km}} long and was completed in 1930.

• Windhoek - capital - junction
• Neudamm
• Omitara
• Gobabis - branch railhead

Gobabis Railway Station.jpg|Gobabis railway station

Gobabis Railway Station Pic3.jpg|Gobabis railway station

Gobabis Railway Station Pic2.jpg|Gobabis railway station

In 2005, an 89 km section of new Northern Railway from Tsumeb to Oshivelo was opened by President Sam Nujoma, as part of the "Northern Extension" of the railway link from Kranzberg to Otavi. Construction on the project's second phase, a 59 km stretch from Ondangwa to Oshikango on the Angolan border at a cost of about N$329m, was scheduled to be completed by December 2007. Ondangwa Station opened in 2006 for freight.

In phase 3, a 58 km branch from Ondangwa to Oshakati was constructed at an estimated cost of N$220m, for completion in December 2008. For the future a connection from Oshikango to a point near Cassinga is planned on Angola's southern railway system.Ministry of Trade & Industry [http://www.mti.gov.na/subpage.php?linkNo=72 Northern Railway Extension] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101003134/http://www.mti.gov.na/subpage.php?linkNo=72 |date=2009-01-01 }} Retrieved on June 29, 2007{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaysafrica.com/blog/2014/10/21/angola-namibia-link-3/|title=ANGOLA-NAMIBIA LINK|work=railwaysafrica.com|access-date=2014-10-23|archive-date=2014-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023100300/http://www.railwaysafrica.com/blog/2014/10/21/angola-namibia-link-3/|url-status=dead}}

The Ondangwa-Oshikango line was officially opened by President Hifikepunye Pohamba in July 2012. In order to keep system operational and safe, provincial governor Usko Nghaamwa implored local residents to stop stealing railroad ties and sections of the wire fence.[http://allafrica.com/stories/201207090857.html Namibia: Community Vandalizes New Railway Line] (9 July 2012)

• Otavi - junction for Grootfontein
• Tsumeb
• Ondangwa - junction
• Oniipa road bridge.
• Onjdiva
• NamacundeRailwaysAfrica 2014/5 p11.
• Oshakati
• {{Flagicon|Namibia}} {{Flagicon|Angola}} Oshikango - border post - current railhead{{cite news

|title=At last

|last=Shivute

|first=Oswald

|date=6 July 2012

|work=The Namibian}}

Apart from a number of short rail connections built by mining companies, the following railway links are decommissioned:

• {{Convert|20|km}} Cape Cross Mine Railway, {{RailGauge|610mm}} gauge. The first railway line in South West Africa, built in 1895/96.
• {{Convert|18|km}} Walvis Bay Railway, {{RailGauge|610mm}} gauge, completed in 1899. The line linked the port of Walvis Bay to Rooikop.
• {{Convert|567|km}} Otavibahn, a {{RailGauge|600mm}} private railway built by the Otavi Mining and Railway Company between 1903 and 1906 to connect the mines at Tsumeb to the town of Swakopmund. In 1908 the line was extended by {{Convert|91|km}} to reach Grootfontein. The Otavibahn was the longest {{RailGauge|600mm}} gauge railway in the world at its time of construction.{{cite book| title=Little Railways of the World | url=https://archive.org/details/littlerailwaysof00shaw | url-access=registration |author=Shaw, Frederic J.|location=Berkeley, Calif.|publisher=Howell-North |year=1958|pages = [https://archive.org/details/littlerailwaysof00shaw/page/37 37–38]|no-pp=y|oclc=988744}}
• {{Convert|119|km}} a {{RailGauge|600mm}} industrial line linking Kolmanskop with Bogenfels, completed 1913. This was the only rail link in Namibia ever electrified. The rail track does not exist anymore.
• {{Convert|26|km}} Amboland Railway, Otjiwarongo - Outjo, 1914-1915.

{{Main|Trans-Kalahari Railway}}

• Gobabis - current railhead{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaysafrica.com/blog/2014/04/08/trans-kalahari-railway-5/|title=TRANS-KALAHARI RAILWAY|work=railwaysafrica.com}}
• {{Flagicon|Namibia}} {{Flagicon|Botswana}} Buitepos - border post
• {{flagicon|Botswana}} Mamuno
• {{flagicon|Botswana}} Mmamabula - coal deposits
• {{Flagicon|Botswana}} Lobatse, Botswana - current railhead{{cite news

|url=http://www.economist.com.na/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20329:railway-line-to-transport-botswana-namibia-coal-on-the-cards&catid=533:special-focus&Itemid=55

|title=Railway line to transport Botswana, Namibia coal on the cards

|last=Kaira

|first=Chamwe

|newspaper=Namibia Economist

|date=6 November 2009}}

• Zambia - Grootfontein{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaysafrica.com/blog/2013/08/zambia-namibia-link/|title=ZAMBIA-NAMIBIA LINK|work=railwaysafrica.com}}

:Along the Caprivi Strip, which was acquired by Germany in 1890 (the colonial power of Namibia at the time) for the very reason of building a railway to the Zambia border and the Zambezi River. However the river is not navigable from the Indian Ocean to this place, which caused the railway not to be built.

The railway to Lüderitz is now complete and is now being evaluated for freight traffic use. The first test train to Luderitz Via Aus arrived on October 10, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://neweralive.na/posts/train-arrives-in-luderitz-on-durability-test-mission|title=Train arrives in Lüderitz on durability test mission|last=Abraham|first=Tuulikki|date=2018-10-19|website=New Era Live|language=en-ZA|access-date=2019-06-16}} According to the Karas Region Chancellor Jan Scholtz, Passenger service to Luderitz will commence once it is determined that there is sufficient demand for it, but for the time being it is not being considered.{{Cite web|url=https://neweralive.na/posts/Hey-nami-nus|title=Hey !Nami#nus Constituency, what's #nu?|last=Reporter|first=New Era|date=2019-06-03|website=New Era Live|language=en-ZA|access-date=2019-06-16}}

• Aus
• Grasplatz
• Lüderitz - port

{{Portal|Trains|Africa}}

• Transport in Namibia
• Railway stations in Namibia

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Rail transport in Namibia}}

• [http://www.transnamib.com.na/ TransNamib website]
• Namibweb.com: [http://www.namibweb.com/railways.htm First railway lines in Namibia]

{{TransNamib}}

{{Africa in topic|Rail transport in}}

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