Namibia's rail programme combines defined infrastructure targets with active rehabilitation, track upgrades and rolling-stock renewal. The 1,360-kilometre target provides a measurable benchmark for progress through to 2028/29.
The N$952.1 million railway allocation for 2026/27 comes alongside the government's objective of increasing rail's share of the transport market from 11% to 25%, placing network modernisation and additional rolling stock within a wider effort to expand the role of rail in Namibia's transport system.
- Namibia is targeting 1,000 kilometres of upgraded railway by the end of 2026/27, increasing to 1,360 kilometres by 2028/29.
- The national railway rehabilitation programme has completed 210 kilometres of railway rehabilitation.
- The Kranzberg–Otjiwarongo upgrade has received 16,300 tonnes of rails and 48 turnouts.
- Procurement and supply activities on the Otjiwarongo–Tsumeb/Otavi–Grootfontein Rail Upgrade have reached 11.4% progress.
- Earthworks on the Sandverhaar–Buchholzbrunn railway have reached 85% completion.
- Four TransNamib locomotives have been stripped for remanufacturing, with plans also covering the acquisition of new locomotives and wagons.
- Namibia has allocated N$952.1 million to railway modernisation for 2026/27, including N$946 million for development projects.
Namibia’s Ministry of Works and Transport has set a target of upgrading 1,000 kilometres of railway lines by the end of the 2026/27 financial year, increasing to 1,360 kilometres by 2028/29.
Executive director of the ministry, Jonas Sheelongo, disclosed that the ministry also plans to maintain 1,600 kilometres of railway infrastructure annually, complete 28% of the country’s Railway Master Plan and review 80% of the country's primary railway legislation.
The ministry has made progress on several major rail infrastructure projects. The ministry reported that 210 kilometres of railway rehabilitation have been completed under the national railway rehabilitation programme.
On the Kranzberg–Otjiwarongo rail upgrade, 16,300 tonnes of rails and 48 turnouts have been delivered, representing 40% completion of the first lot of the equipment.
Procurement and supply activities have commenced on the Otjiwarongo–Tsumeb/Otavi–Grootfontein Rail Upgrade, with the project reaching 11.4% progress.
Railway earthworks on the Kranzberg–Otjiwarongo project have reached 23% completion on Section 1 and 17% on Section 3, while earthworks on the Sandverhaar–Buchholzbrunn railway have advanced to 85% completion.
As part of the fleet modernisation programme, four locomotives owned by the state railway company, TransNamib, have been stripped for remanufacturing.
The ministry also intends to increase rail's share of the transport market from 11% to 25% over the medium term. Plans include the acquisition of 15 new locomotives and wagons before increasing the fleet by a further 20 units in subsequent years.
Overall, the Department of Transport has been allocated N$2.074 billion for 2026/27, rising to N$2.394 billion in 2027/28 and N$2.806 billion in 2028/29, while the Department of Works received N$182.58 million for the current financial year. The combined allocation for the two departments amounts to N$2.257 billion in 2026/27.
The ministry has allocated N$952.1 million for the 2026/27 financial year to upgrade and modernise Namibia's railway network as part of efforts to improve transport infrastructure and stimulate economic growth.
The railway programme aims to upgrade, construct, maintain and modernise the national railway network through TransNamib while supporting implementation of the Railway Master Plan.
Of the total allocation, N$946 million has been earmarked for development projects, while N$4.57 million will be spent on personnel and N$1.49 million on goods and services. The programme's budget is projected to increase to N$1.18 billion in 2027/28 before easing to N$1.08 billion in 2028/29.
