TransNamib

Trans- Namib Holdings Limited is the railway company of Namibia. It operates the local rail network since the country's independence. Since 1 July 1993, the company also operates the Trans Namib Museum in Windhoek. Your service includes not only rail but also road transport and port services. It aims at a complete offer in the national logistics.

Route network

The rail network consists of 1067- mm gauge ( Cape gauge ), comprises 2626 km and connects all major towns in Namibia. It comes in its basic structure from the colonial period, however, has been modernized resistant. Since the early 2000s, large parts of the network are increasingly lapse and be replaced since the beginning of 2010 consuming and repaired and built new routes.

The first railroad was built in 1895 by the Damaraland Guano Company for business purposes. The first 383 km long route from Swakopmund to Windhoek was inaugurated on 19 June 1902.

Traffic

Since the beginning of 2009, all 45 locomotives of the Trans Namib were overhauled for the equivalent of about 20 million euros. As of July 2010 Trans Namib has 69 locomotives of which 49 are in use.

Freight traffic

Rail transport plays a role, especially in the carriage of goods. The following routes have been and partially operated in freight transport:

• Kranzberg Otavi
• Luderitz Seeheim
• Otavi - Grootfontein
• Otavi - Tsumeb
• Otjiwarongo Outjo -
• Tsumeb Oshikango
• Windhoek - Gobabis
• Windhoek Nakop

Passenger

Rail transport plays a very minor role in passenger transportation in the country. Each section is traversed at most once per day, and the trips are usually held overnight, so that the offer to tourists in particular is not very attractive. Since 1994, passenger cars have been refurbished and rebuilt. The passenger transport division of the Namibian railway works under the name " Star Line Passenger Services ". There are both sleeping cars (not every day, and on all routes ) and open seating cars in two classes of cars ( Economy, Business). They each have four seats next to each other and a center aisle or six beds in partially private compartments. Toilets and snack machines are available, as well as a limited entertainment and partial air conditioning.

The following routes are operated in passenger of the "Star Line Passenger Services " (January 2010)

• Windhoek Kranzberg
• Kranzberg Walvis Bay
• Windhoek Karasburg

Desert Express

Figurehead on the net as the railways is the " Desert Express ", a luxury train for tourists that operates between Windhoek and Swakopmund once a week. Also Rovos Rail, Shongololo Express and Blue Train of South Africa offer or offered several times a year railway cruises through Namibia.

Omugulugwombashe Star

In March 2005, assembled in China " Omugulugwombashe Star" was put into service; A new, ultra-modern diesel train, which reaches a speed of 120 kilometers per hour and 142 passengers seats. He has flat screens for video and air conditioning. The train was originally intended as an airport shuttle service from Windhoek to the Hosea Kutako International Airport, but was temporarily used on the route Windhoek - Walvis Bay and then served from 2007 once a week the route between Windhoek and Ondangwa. He enjoyed the first few months on the line to Ondangwa relatively large popularity. The regular operation in 2008 but finally stopped completely because the train is not aligned for Namibian conditions and constantly occurring technical and mechanical problems. In March 2011, the train has been repaired and is now to be used again.