CROSS-BORDER RAIL PROJECTSMr. Leonard M. Makwinja

CEO – Botswana Railways

• Botswana Railways (BR) is a state owned entity

• BR was formed by an Act of Parliament

• Operations are both freight and passenger services

• 4 subsidiary business operations

Track Infrastructure

• Mainline rail track of 640 km

• Branch lines measuring 280 km

Rolling Stock

• 45 diesel electric locomotives

• 1300+ revenue earning wagons on book

• 37 passenger coaches

RAIL INFORMATION

REGIONAL OVERVIEW– SADC Rail Network

Source: slideshare.net, 2017

- Project to provide a line from Mosetse in Botswana, connecting to Zambia and beyond through the Kazungula bridge.

- Rail line is part of the North South Corridor (NSC)

- Projected tonnage of

PROJECT DEVELOPMENTS – BR Priority ProjectsMosetse-Kazungula Rail Link

Project Characteristics

Project Benefits

- Gate-way to North African markets promoting inter regional trade

- Connects North African region to maritime ports in South Africa

- Reduction of haulage traffic on roads

- Opportunity for tourism industry – Tourist trains

- Alternative transport mode for Agricultural products from Pandamatenga Farms in Botswana

Project Status

- BR looking for funding options

B O T S W A N A

Mosetse-Kazungula: 367 km

- Over 200 billion coal deposits found in Botswana (at least two thirds of Africa’s coal resource)

- Project aims to link these coal deposits to South African heavy haul lines

- Line connects Mmamabula in Botswana to Lephalale in South Africa

- Line capacity of 15 MTPA

- Need to build 3-4 km bridge across Limpopo River

PROJECT DEVELOPMENTS – BR Priority ProjectsMmamabula-Lephalale Rail Link

Project Characteristics

Project Benefits

- Gate way to South African ports and Mozambique ports through Swaziland rail network for the coal market

- Shortest route for NSC if coupled with Mosetse-Kazungula line

- Exposure of Botswana Coal fields to South African heavy haul lines and maritime ports

Project Status

- BR and TFR to sign MoU to facilitate progress of the project

B O T S W A N A

Mmamabula-Lephalale: 56 km

- Provide a rail link along side the Trans Kalahari highway

- Project between Botswana and Namibia

- Direct connection to Walvis Bay

- BR & TransNamib to sign MoU to construct Dry Port in Gobabis

PROJECT DEVELOPMENTS – BR Priority ProjectsTrans-Kalahari Rail Link

Project Characteristics

Project Benefits

- Heavy haul line for different freight streams

- Directly connect Botswana to Walvis Bay by rail

- Seamless service from Sea Rail Botswana dry port in Walvis Bay

Project Status

- Discussions on-going but no firm commitments from parties

B O T S W A N A

Trans Kalahari rail line: 1500 km

PROJECT DEVELOPMENTS – BR Priority Projects

B O T S W A N A

Legend

1. Mosetse – Kazungula rail line

2. Mmamabula – Lephalale rail line

3. Trans Kalahari rail line

• Completion of new rail lines; Mosetse-Kazungula and Mmamabula-Lephalale rail lines

• Increased value of regional trade

• Privatisation of BR

GROWTH PREDICTIONS

INTER-OPERABILITY

• Currently rail operators use different train

control operating systems which do not talk

to each other.

• This creates barriers to seamless train

movements across borders.

Thank you!