Trans-Namib reaching up to handle more freight

Railway parastatal Trans-Namib has invested in new handling equipment for its Windhoek, Walvis Bay and Ondangwa terminals to cater for growing volumes. A refurbished 45-ton reach stacker is now operating at the Nehale Lya Mpingana railway station in Ondangwa. A second 45-ton SMV 45-31 TB5 will improve container handling capacity at the Windhoek station. Built by Swedishbased Konecranes Lifttrucks heavy loading equipment, the machines were purchased at a cost of N$2-million each (R2-million). Nehale Lya Mpingana station master William Claasen described it as a “dream come true” to acquire the stacker to deal with growing freight cargo. “I think it is a boost for the economy, especially in this part of the country where we deal with volumes of container freight cargo. It will also be more cost effective for our clients to work with us,” he said. Other equipment bought recently by Trans-Namib includes 125 open-top rail wagons, two mechanical horses to haul milk and fuel tankers, five one-ton support vehicles, and three 4x4 support vehicles, according to Ailly Hangula- Paulino, chief corporate communications officer. In addition, a new 60-kilometre rail link is being built between Ondangwa and Oshikango, and the Aus-Luderitz line is being rehabilitated. “The government of Namibia purchased rails required for the Ondangwa-Oshikango railway line extension and the Aus-Luderitz rehabilitation work from VAE SA, a rail mill in Austria, for N$189 million (R189-m),” says Hangula-Paulino. According to the Directorate of Railway Affairs at the Ministry of Works and Transport, the total cost of the Northern Rail Extension (Ondangwa- Oshikango) is approximately N$650 million.