The second phase of Namibia’s railway upgrade plan has been given a boost of almost US$200 million.

The country’s Transport Infrastructure Improvement Plan II is part of its Vision 2030, which envisages Namibia as a regional logistics hub.

According to Construct Africa, the US$196.4 million loan from the AfDB covers more than half of the project’s total cost, while the Namibian government will cover the remaining 48.2%.

The second phase expansion involves laying 207 km of new rail track near the existing line between Kranzberg and Otjiwarongo, using concrete railway sleepers and new rails.

In addition, the project covers building 16 bridges, renovating two train stations and procuring 55 000 tons of rails. Other components of phase two include modernising the signalling system along the Walvis Bay-Tsumeb line to improve reliability, safety and capacity as well as the overall performance of the railway system.

7 November 2023
Image: Freepik