The government has invested N$2 billion towards the rehabilitation of the rail between Walvis Bay and Usakos.

This was revealed by the Executive Director of the Ministry of Works and Transport, Esther Kaapanda, during her visit to the railway tracks in Erongo Region.

There has been a public outcry over the dilapidated rail infrastructure across the country.

Kaapanda said the upgrading of the railway currently underway is done to reduce derailments as well as upgrade the rail network to SADC standards.

The Ministry of Works and Transport has launched a digital information system to improve the monitoring of cross-border truck movement and conduct health checks.

The system was launched on behalf of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

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.