Railways in Namibia
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Railways in Namibia contains miscellaneous information in timeline format. Rail service in Namibia is provided by TransNamib.
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[edit] Timeline
[edit] 2006
- Construction on the project's second phase, a 59km stretch from Ondangwa to Oshikango on the Angolan border at a cost of about N$329m, is scheduled to begin in June or July, for completion by December 2007. In phase 3, a 58km branch from Ondangwa to Oshakati is to be constructed at an estimated cost of N$220m, for completion in December 2008. In time it is hoped that Angola will build a connection from Oshikango to a point near Cassinga, on its southern railway system.
- The proposed new railway line from Tsumeb to Ondangwa and on to Oshakati and Oshikango at the Angolan border forms an extension of the existing Namibian railway system. The new line is planned to be eventually linked to the Angolan railway system at a point near Cassinga/Chamutete.
[edit] 2005
New Northern Railway Line Claims Its First Victim
The Namibian (Windhoek) June 9, 2005
A CAR belonging to Absalom Kalugongo of Omutsegwonime in the Oshikoto Region was destroyed by a train at the railway construction site near Oshivelo on Tuesday evening. Apparently, Kalugongo tried to cross the new railway line to his farm, but his car became stuck on the rails. A train carrying construction material for the railway building project ploughed into the car, damaging it beyond repair.
Nobody was hurt in the accident and the train was not damaged.
Kalugongo says he wants compensation from TransNamib, but the railway parastatal says the accident was his own fault. This is the first accident on the new Tsumeb-Oshikango railway since the construction project started two years ago.
Reported by Oswald Shivute, Windhoek
Perhaps a proper "occupation" level crossing should be built to assist local people to cross the railway line! Perhaps, local people should be advised about the hazards of trains.
First 89km section of new Northern Railway from Tsumeb to Oshivelo opened by President Sam Nujoma. Tracklaying underway from Oshivelo to Oshikango near Angolan border.
Transnamib Trains Collide At Wilhelmstal - The Namibian (Windhoek)
TWO TransNamib trains collided at Wilhelmstal station, between Okahandja and Karibib, at around 02h30 yesterday morning. The usual procedure for trains approaching a station is to slow down and stop before the tracks are changed. One of the trains, travelling from Swakopmund to Windhoek, failed to do so. It was carrying 23 passengers, but mostly freight.
[edit] 2004
Ambitious plans to integrate the railways of Africa to facilitate trade were discussed at the Africa Rail 2002 conference in Johannesburg in August. The move forms part of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), a programme aimed at economic renaissance.
A number of speakers pointed out that railways built by former colonial powers were not built to advance African interests. Now there are plans to link the three parallel east-west lines in Angola and to connect the Angolan network to that of Namibia and hence to South Africa.
Another speaker said that the strategic positioning of Maputo rail and port infrastructure indicated that the network should be promoted as the primary corridor serving Zimbabwe, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Swaziland, and South Africa's Mpumalanga province.
South Africa's transport minister, Mr Abdulah Omar, said Africa needed to integrate its railway systems to form an internationally-competitive network. Experts said this could involve leasing locomotives and wagons, becoming involved as concessionaires and consultants, and participating in joint ventures.
