Walvis Bay-Karibib rail corridor launched

A new freight rail corridor linking Walvis Bay and Karibib has been launched as part of efforts to strengthen Namibia's logistics network, improve supply chain efficiency and reduce the number of heavy trucks on the country's roads.The Walvis Bay–Karibib rail corridor, launched by Kaleido Logistics in partnership with TransNamib in July, is expected to move up to 25 000 tonnes of freight each month. Based on an average truck load of 34 tonnes, the service could remove about 735 trucks from the road every month.The launch coincided with the opening of Kaleido Logistics' new logistics hub in Karibib, strategically located alongside the railway line with direct access to TransNamib's rail infrastructure. The facility complements the company's existing logistics centre in Walvis Bay.The hub has been designed to improve cargo handling, storage, loading, unloading and trans-shipment operations, with the aim of reducing transit times and improving supply chain efficiency. It is equipped to consolidate marble and granite blocks, as well as other commodities, providing businesses in the Karibib area with an alternative to road transport.Kaleido Logistics chief executive officer Xoán Martínez described the project as an important step in expanding the company's presence in Namibia and across the region."The launch of this rail corridor, together with the opening of our new logistics hub in Karibib, represents a strategic step in strengthening our presence in Namibia and continuing to develop integrated logistics solutions across African transport corridors," he said.Just the startMartínez said the company had built on its rail operations in Angola, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, adding that the partnership with TransNamib would improve Namibia's competitiveness as a logistics destination."Our ambition is for this service to be just the beginning," he said.TransNamib chief executive officer Desmond van Jaarsveld said the partnership forms part of the national railway operator's strategy to reposition rail as the preferred mode of transport for bulk and containerised cargo."By working with strategic partners such as Kaleido Logistics, we are creating efficient, reliable and sustainable freight solutions that strengthen the country's position as a regional logistics hub," he said.Van Jaarsveld added that the corridor would improve supply chain efficiency, reduce congestion along the Walvis Bay–Karibib route and support Namibia's broader economic growth objectives.According to the companies, shifting freight from road to rail is expected to improve road safety, reduce wear and tear on national roads and lower carbon emissions by an estimated 900 tonnes of CO₂ annually.The rail service operates on a cargo consolidation model, allowing freight from multiple customers to be combined before being transported by rail. The model accommodates both bulk cargo and containerised freight, depending on the type of goods and shipping requirements.Kaleido Logistics said its international ocean freight network enables the integration of rail, road and maritime transport, providing customers with a single end-to-end logistics solution while positioning rail as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, road transport.

Walvis Bay-Karibib rail corridor launched

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Namibian Sun 2026-08-11

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Walvis Bay-Karibib rail corridor launched

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Namibian Sun 2026-08-11

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