To lessen the burden on road transportation to international markets, TransNamib says it is hard at work to prepare and equip itself to be able to move more of the freight volumes on the railway. 

This was confirmed by TransNamib Chief Executive Officer, Johny Smith, following an assessment visit with the Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, on the railway infrastructure between Kalkfeld and Omaruru that forms part of the Walvis Bay and Northern Namibia linkage.

The current railway linking Namibia to Angola, the DRC, and Zambia is being upgraded and rehabilitated to accommodate more trains and ultimately improve the financial position of TransNamib.

Smith says work on the Walvis Bay-Kranzberg route of about 200 kilometers is to be done by mid-2023, while 20 kilometers of the line between Tsumeb and Kranzberg that started in 2014 are still to be partially upgraded.

"Rail remains an important element within the logistics sector as well as a critical enabler of our economy.  With an improved rail line, TransNamib's capacity will increase. We also believe that through the improvements done on this line, in the long term, the railways will contribute to the lowering of transportation costs in the country as well as improving road safety, because we need to move more freight from road to rail."

Smith stressed that maintenance and rehabilitation of railways are crucial, as the entire line of the Tsumeb-Kranzberg route alone accounted for over 1,000 broken rails and resulted in increased derailments.

"The investment by the Government of Namibia on this railway line between Tsumeb and Kranzberg over the past 10 years has already added value to the train operations for TransNamib, but we however still need to have a full completion of the rehabilitation of the line to further allow TransNamib to provide a more reliable and faster train service."

The Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, says despite the government being initially slow in ensuring railway linkages within the country, he is satisfied with the current progress being made to rehabilitate, upgrade, and maintain infrastructure.

"So from Walvis Bay to Arandis, from Arandis to Kranzberg, you go there, there are activities ongoing, contractors are on site to upgrade that railway section. A month ago, I was there. We are satisfied with what is happening there. Today, here we are, and I can say, I can confirm now in your presence, that some of the written reports that I have received indicate that there is some progress being made here,  which, of course, must be appreciated."

The Walvis Bay-Northern Namibia Railway Link measures close to 600 kilometers, whose works are being undertaken by D&M Rails Constructions company.