The railway network in Botswana consists of 888 kilometres (552 mi) of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge track. There is main line from Mahikeng, South Africa through eastern Botswana to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and three branches: from Francistown to Sowa (174,5 km), from Selebi-Phikwe to Serole and from Palapye to Morupule Colliery (16 km).
Last update: 29.01.2024
Trains in Botswana are operated by Botswana Railways. In 2015 operator bought five first class sleepers, 18 economy class coaches, five business class coaches, three buffet cars and a luggage van.
There are plans to construct new railway lines from Mosetse on the Sowa branch of Botswana Railways via the new Kazungula Bridge to Livingstone in Zambia, from coal mines in the Mmamabula to Lephalale, South Africa (113 km; with 68.9km located in Botswana and 44.1km in South Africa) and from Lobatse to Gobabis in Namibia. All three new railway lines would be connected with existing railway lines in Zambia, South Africa and Namibia.
In 2023 Botswana Railways launched the freight train to Maputo from Morupule coal mine.
Train travel in Botswana – current situation
There are no passenger trains in Botswana, except luxury cruise trains from South Africa to Zimbabwe. There were international trains from Francistown to Bulawayo (operated by Zimbabwean Railways) and BR Express train from Gaborone to Lobatse. All passenger services were suspended in 2020 due to coronavirus pandemic and were not resumed yet.
Botswana Railways website – up-to-date information
Currently Botswana Railways operates only freight trains. There are problems with aging rolling stock and lack of maintenance of railway lines. In the nearest future Botswana Railways will be restructured into two units of rail operations and rail infrastructure.
Botswana Railways has modern passenger rolling stock – air-conditioned seat and sleeper carriages produced by South African Transnet company and I don’t understand why Botswana don’t launch any passenger train between largest cities in the country.
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