# Namibia‑Botswana rail development

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/namibiabotswana-rail-development
> Updated: 2026-08-05T15:40:08.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

In early August 2026, Namibia and Botswana announced the completion of a feasibility study for the Trans‑Kalahari Railway, a multi‑billion‑dollar project intended to create thousands of jobs and provide a new logistics corridor linking the two countries. Ministers from both governments outlined next steps focused on financing, transparent procurement and the involvement of local contractors, aiming to boost Southern African economic integration.

Two days later, Namibia opened a new domestic freight rail line between the Port of Walvis Bay and the inland town of Karibib. Operated by Kaleido Logistics and state‑owned TransNamib, the corridor is expected to move up to 25,000 tonnes of cargo per month, remove hundreds of trucks from roads and cut annual CO₂ emissions. A logistics hub at Karibib supports the handling of bulk and containerised goods, reinforcing the country’s broader push to revitalize rail as the preferred freight mode.

Together, these developments illustrate a rapid expansion of rail infrastructure in the region, moving from cross‑border planning to the operationalisation of domestic freight routes that enhance trade efficiency and environmental outcomes.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-05: Namibia Opens Walvis Bay‑Karibib Rail Corridor to Boost Freight

Namibia’s new Walvis Bay‑Karibib rail corridor, launched by Kaleido Logistics and TransNamib, will handle up to 25,000 tonnes of freight monthly, cut 735 trucks from roads and reduce CO₂ emissions by 900 tonnes

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/namibia-opens-walvis-baykaribib-rail-corridor-to-boost-freight

### 2026-08-03: Trans‑Kalahari Railway moves toward construction as Namibia and Botswana finalize roadmap

Namibia and Botswana have finished the Trans‑Kalahari Railway feasibility study and are set to finalise financing and procurement, aiming to start construction by December and create around 10,000 jobs.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/transkalahari-railway-moves-toward-construction-as-namibia-and-botswana-finalize-roadmap

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Cite as: Namibia‑Botswana rail development. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/namibiabotswana-rail-development