Namibia’s Ministry of Works and Transport has finalised the procurement of 35,000 tonnes of rails and turnouts for the Otjiwarongo–Tsumeb and Otavi–Grootfontein railway lines at a cost of N$877.3 million for the 2026/27 financial year.
The first consignment, also representing 65% of the total, is expected to be delivered during the 2026/2027 financial year due to extended manufacturing and delivery timelines, as 2026/2027 documents have shown.
The government has so far completed the procurement of 25,000 tonnes of rails and turnouts for the upgrade of the Kranzberg–Otjiwarongo railway line, at a cost of N$868 million. To date, 16,300 tonnes of rails and 48 turnouts, equivalent to 65% of the total, have already been delivered.
Earthworks on Sections 1 and 3 of the Kranzberg–Otjiwarongo line have reached 23% and 17% completion, at costs of N$23.7 million and N$15.6 million, respectively. These upgrades are jointly funded by the Namibian government and the African Development Bank.
For 2026/2027, the government is advancing rail upgrades and commuter study with a N$2.07 billion budget allocated. Of this amount, N$285 million is designated for operational expenses, while N$1.79 billion is earmarked for development investments, with a strong focus on expanding and rehabilitating rail infrastructure.
The government is making steady progress in upgrading the country’s railway infrastructure, with the feasibility study for a proposed commuter rail system between Windhoek and Rehoboth, as well as Windhoek and Katutura, now 30% complete. The Ministry of Works and Transport has spent N$13 million on the consultancy services project so far.
In the south of the country, the upgrading of the Sandverhaar–Buchholzbrunn railway line in the //Karas Region is nearing completion, with earthworks at 90% and expenditure reaching N$129.8 million. Meanwhile, upgrades across various railway sections spanning 150 kilometres have been completed at a cost of N$89 million.
Under the programme, which focuses on the provision and upgrading of the railway network, N$952 million has been allocated to support infrastructure planning, construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation.
Planned activities for the 2026/2027 financial year include the procurement and construction of additional earthworks for the Kranzberg–Otjiwarongo upgrade, continued delivery of rails and turnouts, and maintenance work across major rail corridors such as Windhoek–Gobabis, Kranzberg–Tsumeb, and Ariamsvlei–Lüderitz.
The government also intends to implement several strategic projects, including the upgrade of the Otjiwarongo–Tsumeb–Otavi–Grootfontein railway line, the construction of the Ondangwa–Oshakati railway, and the development of a passing loop between Nonidas and Randrifle to ease congestion. Additional initiatives include the refurbishment of locomotives and wagons, as well as the finalisation of feasibility studies for the Trans-Zambezi and Trans-Kalahari railway projects.
Written by Chamwe Kaira for Railways Africa
