12 Nov 2020

Botswana Railways chief executive officer, Mr Leonard Makwinja says the Bokowe railway level crossing will be very busy with heavy traffic after the completion of the Mosetse-Kazungula railway line.

Speaking at the rail road safety campaign near Bokowe level crossing in Francistown on Tuesday, Mr Makwinja explained that the Bokowe level crossing would be congested with traffic and therefore extra care was needed at the level crossing to avoid unnecessary accidents.

“Due to the Kenneth Nkhwa interchange, which does not accommodate huge trucks, the expectation is that most of these trucks will congest the Bokowe level crossing,” he added. 

Mr Makwinja explained that they had chosen to hold the campaign at the Bokowe level crossing because it was one level crossing that experienced rail-road accident.

He cited a goods train and a truck accident that happened in 2018, leaving a trail of damages to the locomotives and the truck that was involved.

Mr Makwinja explained that the expectation was that in future, construction of all roads should have a fly-over the railway line to avoid accidents. 

He said by that time, Botswana would have introduced fast high-speed trains, which are the fastest commercial passenger trains and having rail-road level crossing would be dangerous. 

The chief executive officer said plans for the construction of the Mosetse-Kazungula railway line were at an advance stage, adding that a feasibility study for the railway line would be done in the next financial year and would take nine months before the construction starts. 

He said the construction of the Mosetse-Kazungula would cost government close to P300 million, adding that it was very crucial for Botswana, as a land locked country to diversify its rail routes.

“The more routes you have the better and Botswana needs other alternative routes to grow its economy,” he added.  

However, Mr Makwinja appealed to Batswana and motorists in general, to always obey railroad signs to avoid unnecessary fatal accidents. 

Mr Makwinja explained that of recent, rail-road traffic accidents had increased at an alarming rate in Botswana. 

He explained that those accidents caused some emotional trauma to those affected and their families, because they resulted in loss of lives. “Rail accidents also cause emotional trauma to rail crews,” he added.

 For his part, Botswana Railways board chairman, Mr Adolf Hirschfeld said rail-road accidents were very much costly to the company and government, who is the major shareholder.

He explained that train services were very important in any economy because they boost the transportation of heavy machinery and goods.

Botswana is rich in minerals and underground products such as salt and coal and therefore these goods are transported by rail, he added.

Mr Hirschfeld said train parts were very expensive, citing that one locomotive cost close to P30 million. 

Furthermore, he explained that very soon, the construction of the Trans-Kalahari highway would commence, adding that the Dry Port at Walvis Bay in Namibia was operational and would require the services of a railway line. 

Negotiations between Botswana and Namibia, he said, were at an advance stage to commence the construction of the Trans-Kalahari railway line. 

Botswana Railways is on a rail-road campaign along its railway line, targeting level crossing that had claimed or experienced road-rail accidents. Ends