TransNamib says its locomotive procurement process will commence in due course following the completion of an independent technical evaluation of locomotive manufacturers.
Why it Matters
TransNamib’s planned locomotive procurement and rolling stock remanufacturing are central to addressing fleet capacity constraints that have affected rail service efficiency in Namibia. With funding already secured through development finance institutions, the next phase will test how quickly procurement can translate into operational improvement.
The programme also sits within a broader national rail upgrade agenda, including infrastructure works, signalling improvements and investment in strategic routes linked to Namibia’s ports. For the logistics sector, this is about more than fleet renewal. It is about improving reliability, increasing capacity and strengthening rail’s role in freight movement and trade.
State-owned rail operator TransNamib says the procurement process for new rolling stock will commence in due course following the completion of an independent technical evaluation of locomotive manufacturers.
According to the company, the evaluation report has already been submitted to TransNamib management and its board for consideration.
TransNamib said the procurement of new locomotives, as well as the remanufacturing of existing units, will be conducted in line with the Public Procurement Act through the Central Procurement Board of Namibia.
The company added that funding for the locomotive acquisition has already been secured through development finance institutions, including the Development Bank of Namibia and the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
TransNamib said the planned investment forms part of efforts to strengthen fleet capacity and improve rail service efficiency across Namibia.
The company is positioning itself for the future, with a clear focus on modernisation, operational resilience, and delivering a safer, more reliable rail service for the country, revealed TransNamib manager for corporate communications, Alina Garises.
TransNamib has said it will be moving ahead with plans to modernise its rail operations following the securing of N$2.6 billion in funding from the Development Bank of Namibia and the Development Bank of Southern Africa in July 2024.
The funding package is expected to help the state-owned rail operator address longstanding locomotive capacity challenges and improve the efficiency of Namibia’s rail transport network.
According to the company, the loan facility will be used for the remanufacturing of rolling stock, the acquisition of new rolling stock, the modernisation of TransNamib’s workshop facilities and the upgrading of signalling equipment, including the procurement of spares and related infrastructure.
The planned investments form part of broader efforts to improve Namibia’s railway infrastructure and strengthen the country’s logistics sector.
Alongside TransNamib’s fleet renewal programme, the Namibian government has also prioritised the upgrading of railway infrastructure through the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Construction of a new railway line between Kranzberg and Otjiwarongo commenced towards the end of 2024 to replace the ageing rail line currently in use. The project extends further north to Tsumeb.
Government is also planning the introduction of a new signalling system across the rail network to improve operational safety and increase line capacity, particularly on strategic routes leading to Namibia’s ports.
The upgrades are expected to enhance freight movement, support trade and improve the overall reliability of rail transport in the country.
Written by Chamwe Kaira for Railways Africa Magazine
