• FLORIS STEENKAMP
AS POST-COVID tourism gradually picks up, the Desert Express, once one of the jewels in Namibia’s tourism crown, remains out of service.
The much-loved luxury train has not been operating since the Covid-19 lockdown hit Namibia in April 2020.
TransNamib CEO Johny Smith said the company does not have sufficient operational locomotives to accommodate the pulling of the Desert Express’s small fleet of rolling stock.
Smith added that the situation is set to change in future, after TransNamib secured a loan to the tune of N$2,6 billion from the Development Bank of South Africa, among others, to expand its locomotive fleet through new acquisitions and to remanufacture a further 33 locomotives, which are currently out of service.
The money will also be utilised to buy more wagons.
“TransNamib currently has 20 active locomotives, which must ensure its daily operational continuity is maintained. We need approximately double the number of locomotives,” said Smith.
He is confident that TransNamib is moving towards a stage where it will have enough operational locomotives to meet its current and future needs, including rolling out the Desert Express onto the country’s railway network again.
‘MAGICAL’
The Desert Express website describes the journey from Windhoek to Swakopmund and back as “magical” and “the most relaxed way to travel”.
“There is no more comfortable way to experience Namibia. Enjoy the view and activities along the way, spend a few hours exploring Swakopmund before you board the train for your return to Windhoek. En route returning to Windhoek you will experience the most beautiful sunset activity … don’t loose out, welcome on board,” the website says.
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