Yesterday, the Ministry of Works and Transport hosted a workshop on railway subsector improvement and development.
John Mutorwa, Minister of Works and Transport, stated that the workshop would also include the development of a new Namibian transportation policy. This would ensure an integrated, sustainable, inclusive transport system, mindful of Namibia’s regional and international connectivity needs and the welfare of its citizens.
Mutorwa stated that Namibia needs a new type railway system to revive the frameworks.
“The future success of TransNamib’s railway operations lies with an efficient railway operator that requires appropriate and reliable infrastructure, rolling stock and well-motivated, professional staff,” the minister said.
The ministry announced that it has implemented Transport Infrastructure Improvement Project (TIIP) with other stakeholders to improve transport and roads.
“Under the upgrading of the railway line from the Walvis Bay railway station to Kranzberg station near Usakos there are several consultancy components, one of them being the railway institution set up to review the important subject matter that brought us here today,” Mutorwa said.
Johny Smith (TransNamib’s chief Executive Officer) told The Namibian yesterday that the main purpose of the workshop was to develop reforms for improving the country’s railway network.
“The discussion we will have today is going to be a workshop on the institutional reform of the railway sector.
“A draft has already been developed by the consultants in the final session before they must give a final report to the ministry,” he said.
Smith stated that the workshop would examine the future of railways in Namibia, with TransNamib being the country’s only rail operator.
“While the government owns the infrastructure, this reform will look at . . . where to go in terms of the ownership of the railway,” he said.
“… Will we allow any other operators coming into Namibia to operate the railways, and are there perhaps any other reforms in terms of this specific set-up of railways? We will be looking at competition, safety and at what economic value we can create through the railway subsector,” he said.
Smith said that the workshop was primarily focused on the railway sector.
“It is only the railway subsector and there have been many discussions in terms of other subsectors, like road and rail.”
He stated that the improvement of the railway industry depends on the support of other railway businesses.
Source: namibian
