Ondangwa passenger train a weekly service

THE new rail service from Windhoek to Ondangwa via Tsumeb and Oshivelo will probably only start this weekend and it will run once a week, The Namibian has learnt.

An official at the ticket office of the Windhoek railway station said the Omugulugwombashe Star, as the new train is called, will depart from Windhoek on Fridays at 17h30 and the route goes via Okahandja, Karibib, Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Otavi, Tsumeb, Oshivelo and Omuthiya. It will arrive at Ondangwa on Saturdays at 10h00 after a journey of 16 hours.The Omugulugwombashe Star will return from Ondangwa on Sundays at 13h00 and arrive in Windhoek on Mondays at 05h20.A single ticket for adults in the economy class costs N$105 and a return ticket N$180.Tickets for the business class will cost N$180 (single) and N$240 (return).Pensioners will only have to pay N$100 for a single economy ticket to either Oshivelo, Omuthiya or Ondangwa.Children under the age of 12 only pay N$68 for a one-way ticket in the economy class.While a train journey is much safer than one by road, a minibus will cover the distance in only nine hours and a single fare costs around N$100 to N$120.It will arrive at Ondangwa on Saturdays at 10h00 after a journey of 16 hours.The Omugulugwombashe Star will return from Ondangwa on Sundays at 13h00 and arrive in Windhoek on Mondays at 05h20.A single ticket for adults in the economy class costs N$105 and a return ticket N$180.Tickets for the business class will cost N$180 (single) and N$240 (return).Pensioners will only have to pay N$100 for a single economy ticket to either Oshivelo, Omuthiya or Ondangwa.Children under the age of 12 only pay N$68 for a one-way ticket in the economy class.While a train journey is much safer than one by road, a minibus will cover the distance in only nine hours and a single fare costs around N$100 to N$120.