Posted on 25 July 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
On 16 July, the governments of Mozambique and Botswana signed a memorandum of understanding for the developing of a deep water port at Techobanine Point, in Mozambique’s southernmost district of Matutuine, and the building of a 1,100km connecting railway through Zimbabwe from Serule in Botswana. The envisaged port would be able to handle bulk mineral [...] [...more]
Posted on 19 July 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
On 6 July, at the end of a 24-hour official visit to Botswana, Mozambican President Armando Guebuza announced in Gaberone that the two countries are preparing a memorandum of understanding for the building of a “speedier rail link” between them. He recalled that there is an existing line but it is very long, running through [...] [...more]
Posted on 07 June 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Consultants undertaking a pre-feasibility study into the proposed 1,500km Trans-Kalahari Railway (TKR) are expected to report by October. Their preliminary findings are said to look “positive”. It is now suggested that the line should start at Lobatse and run through western Botswana to Walvis Bay in Namibia. The World Bank and the governments of Botswana [...] [...more]
Posted on 14 March 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Botswana Railway (BR) plans to add 160 open salt wagons to its fleet for conveying bulk export salt to the port of Durban. BR procurement manager Mogwena Mookodi told Engineering News Onlne that the extra wagons would be used to transport salt from Botswana Ash (Botash) for export mainly to the UK, US and China: [...] [...more]
Posted on 08 March 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Botswana Railways (BR) procurement manager Mogwena Mookodi told Engineering News that it is intended to add 160 open salt wagons to its fleet for carrying bulk salt in Southern Africa. Trains will start at Botswana Ash (Botash) and continue through to the Durban harbour in South Africa, conveying export traffic destined mainly for the UK, [...] [...more]
Posted on 15 January 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
The transport ministers of Botswana (Frank J Ramsden), Namibia (Helmuth K Angula), and South Africa (Sibusiso Ndebele), issued a joint communiqué on 13 December, following a meeting in Windhoek to discuss the proposed $US1.4 billion Trans-Kalahari railway. Three companies interested in the project made presentations at the meeting, where it was agreed to await the [...] [...more]
Posted on 24 December 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
The transport ministers of Botswana (Frank J Ramsden), Namibia (Helmuth K Angula), and South Africa (Sibusiso Ndebele), issued a joint communiqué on 13 December, following a meeting in Windhoek to discuss the proposed $US1.4 billion Trans-Kalahari railway. Three companies interested in the project made presentations at the meeting, where it was agreed to await the [...] [...more]
Posted on 16 October 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
A pre-feasibility study for the proposed new Trans-Kalahari railway from Botswana to the Namibian coast has begun, after three years of preliminary planning. Expected to take twelve months, the work is being funded by a N$3.4m ($US463,000) grant from the World Bank and N$329,000 ($US44,744) each from the two countries. [...more]
Posted on 20 September 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
The discontinuing of visa requirements for Zimbabweans visiting South Africa has resulted in a significant drop in business for Bulawayo-Botswana trains, National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) public relations manager Fanuel Masikati told the Bulawayo Chronicle. Many Zimbabwean shoppers decided to shift their business to South Africa. He said the train remains operational but business is [...] [...more]
Posted on 22 July 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
Botswana Railways (BR) has consistently made losses of about P30 million per annum on passenger services, accounting for less than 10% of the railway’s operating revenues. This was disclosed in parliament by minister of works and transport Johnnie Swartz in response to a plea for the reintroduction of passenger trains. “Botswana Railways has put passenger [...] [...more]
Posted on 18 June 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
On 15 June, the Zimbabwe Engineering Company (Zeco) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Botswana’s Corridor Infrastructure Development Holdings Private Limited (InfraDev), to assist with technical expertise in the refurbishment of Botswana Railways’ rolling stock. In terms of the agreement, both Zeco and InfraDev will pursue business jointly, with Zeco providing technical expertise and InfraDev [...] [...more]
Posted on 16 April 2009 by Station Master
Replying to criticism of Botswana Railways (BR) withdrawing passenger train services on 31 March, spokesperson Alinah Masenya says it has been decided to sell 45 coaches by sealed bidding and proposals to revive passenger train operation in conjunction with private initiative will be considered. “We will advertise in the media inviting potential bidders and follow [...] [...more]
