Revive railways, says !Naruseb

Revive railways, says !NarusebTrains are safer than cars Transport minister Alpheus !Naruseb has called on the government to revive the railway sector as a means to curb road accidents. NAMPA



Reviving and renovating railway systems could go a long way in preventing road accidents, transport minister Alpheus !Naruseb has said.

!Naruseb was answering questions from the media during the year-end review of the Harambee Prosperity Plan at State House on Tuesday.

President Hage Geingob delivered a post-mortem on progress made between April, when the plan was implemented, and September 2016 to Cabinet ministers and members of the media.

The HPP is the government’s development plan from 2016 to 2020 and focuses on poverty alleviation, wealth redistribution and industrialisation.

!Naruseb said reviving the railway network could go a long way toward reducing Namibia’s road carnage.

At least 617 people died in accidents between 1 January and 21 November this year, according to statistics provided by the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund.

A total of 3 601 crashes were recorded over the same period, in which 6 180 people sustained injuries.

!Naruseb said rail at one stage was a lucrative mode of transport.

With regard to the railway between Aus and Lüderitz, he said contractors had been appointed to build a tunnel to provide cover from strong winds.

“This will protect the rail system so that it can become sustainable,” !Naruseb said.

He said six locomotives were refurbished this year, but the local railway sector faced a number of challenges including industrial action and financial and human resources constraints.