Passenger train is coming back

Staff Writer | Tuesday December 9, 2014 18:06

 

Currently, Botswana’s railway system operates a once a-month tourist train and a dozen goods ones, mainly ferrying soda ash and coal to South Africa. That is set to change as this week since Botswana Railways (BR) floated a tender calling for suppliers of coaches.

BR wants a supply of three generator vans, five first class sleepers, 18 economy class coaches, five business class coaches, three buffet cars and a luggage van.

“I can confirm that following an extensive survey in which Batswana felt there was need to bring back the passenger train, Botswana Railways took the decision to bring back the train,” said BR public relations manager Kefilwe Batsalelwang. She said the majority of Batswana felt the passenger train would close the transport gap “in our transport system”.

“The train will also help reduce the costs normally associated with long travel as passengers will not need to pay lodging fees to wait for morning, but can straightway connect to a night train,” she said. Batsalelwang said the train is expected back on the track at the end of 2015. More importantly, the train will help to lessen long queues, especially during long holidays, she said.

“The train will have acceptable standards of comfort, obviously better than the last train as the standards have improved since the service was terminated,” she said.

Botswana Railways terminated its passenger train in 2009 following a string of operational losses amounting to about 30 Million Pula per annum, and inability to service the locomotives and coaches, which put passengers’ lives at risk.

Following the termination of the service there have been calls across board, including from Parliament and various councils to ‘bring back the train’. The re-introduction of the service, however, will be nothing more than a social responsibility stunt by BR, owing to obvious stiff competition from road transport.