Botswana: Botswana Railways (BR) suspends all BR Express passenger night trains until further notice! [update]

update (13 January 2020): The trains are back in operation!

Botswana Railways (BR), the national railway of Botswana, has announced that
as a result of heavy rainfall in most parts of Botswana's Central Region, all BR Express passenger night trains (as well as all goods trains) have been suspended until further notice. BR runs two overnight services, one from Lobatse to Francistown, and the other from Francistown to Lobatse, with stops in Gaborone, Mahalapye, Palapye, and Serule and Tonota Halt. We'll keep you posted!

Botswana: Botswana Railways (BR) temporarily suspends the selling of food & beverages on board the BR Express! [update]

update (05 January 2019): The Government of Botswana has removed the Facebook post in which BR's suspension of the "buffet service" was announced. We can currently not confirm that the service is still available or not. We'll keep you posted!

Botswana Railways (BR), the national railway of Botswana, has announced that it will temporarily suspend the "buffet service" (selling of food, snacks, refreshments and alcoholic beverages) on board the BR Express with immediate effect from 05 January 2019 until further notice. Passengers may bring their own meals/snacks and refreshments onboard except for any alcoholic beverages. The BR Express is Botswana Railways' overnight service between Lobatse and Francistown via Gaborone, Pilane, Mahalapye, Palapye, Serule and Tonota Halt. The "BR Express" also connects Francistown with Bulawayo in Zimbabwe.

Botswana: BR Express now stops at eight stations between Lobatse <> Francistown!

Botswana Railways (BR) not only extended its passenger train service (BR Express) to Bulawayo, it also increased the stopping places of the BR Express from six to eight with effect from 15 December 2017.  The two additional stops are Pilane and Tonota Halt. The north bound train will arrive in Pilane at 22:00 and depart at 22:02. At Tonota Halt, the north bound passenger train will arrive at 05:22 and depart at 05:24. The south bound train will arrive at Tonota Halt at 21:53 and depart at 21:56. This train will arrive at Pilane at 05:06 and depart at 0508.
Botswana Railways also changed the departure time for the passenger train at Lobatse from 18:00 to 18:45, effective 15 December 2017.



Botswana Railways re-introduced a passenger train service in Botswana on 22 March 2016. The train consist of 3 classes being Standard and Business Class as well as Sleeper Coaches. This service currently connects Lobatse with Francistown via Gaborone, Pilane (new) Mahalapye, Palapye, Serule and Tonota Halt (new).

Botswana: Botswana Railways to launch a passenger train service between Francistown <> Bulawayo!

Botswana Railways (BR) just announced that with effect from 20 December 2017 its passenger train service, the BR Express, will connect Francistown in Botswana with Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. The BR Express will depart Francistown at 07:00 and arrive in Bulawayo at 12:30. Upon return, the train will depart Bulawayo at 14:15 and arrive in Francistown at 19:45. Botswana Railways stopped services to Zimbabwe in the early 2000s.



Botswana Railways re-introduced a passenger train service in Botswana on 22 March 2016. The train consist of 3 classes being Standard and Business Class as well as Sleeper Coaches. This service currently operates between Lobatse and Francistown.

Botswana: Botswana Railways has launched its new passenger train service!

Botswana Railways (BR) has launched its long-awaited passenger train service in Botswana this morning. The BR Express will run daily between Lobatse and Francistown via Gaborone, Mahalapye, Palapye and Serule from 23 March 2016. Standard Class tickets will cost 14 Pula - 102 Pula (single way), Business Class tickets will cost 24 Pula - 171 Pula (single way) and First Class tickets will cost 40 Pula - 285 Pula (single way). The luggage allowance is 30kg per adult in Standard Class, 40kg in Business Class and First Class respectively.

BR EXPRESS UNVEILED!More to follow
Posted by BWgovernment on Tuesday, 22 March 2016

Botswana: Train schedule & ticket fares for new passenger train service now available >>

Botswana: Train schedule & ticket fares for new passenger train service now available!

The Government of Botswana has published some long-awaited information about the new passenger train service in the country via Facebook. According to the postings (see below), Botswana Railways will run a daily service between Lobatse and Francistown via Gaborone, Mahalapye, Palapye and Serule. Botswana's transport and communications minister, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo, said in late February 2016, the new passenger train service will be operational by the end of March 2016. We'll keep you updated!

FINALLY IT IS COMING - INTRODUCING PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICE
Posted by BWgovernment on Friday, 18 March 2016

OVERNIGHT PASSENGER TRAIN SCHEDULEIt is finally here...#BlueTrain
Posted by BWgovernment on Friday, 18 March 2016

Standard Class tickets will cost 14 Pula - 102 Pula (single way), Business Class tickets will cost 24 Pula - 171 Pula (single way) and First Class tickets will cost 40 Pula - 285 Pula (single way). The luggage allowance is 30kg per adult in Standard Class, 40kg in Business Class and First Class respectively.

PROMOTIONAL PASSENGER TICKET FARES – PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICES It is finally here...
Posted by BWgovernment on Friday, 18 March 2016

Botswana: Botswana Railways (BR) set to reintroduce a passenger rail service!

update (22 Feb 2016): According to Botswana's transport and communications minister, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo, the new daily passenger train service will operational by the end of March 2016. Regarding the refurbishment of train stations, Mr Mabeo said they were focusing on six stations being Gaborone, Francistown, Palapye, Lobatse, Serule and Mahalapye.

The President of Botswana, Ian Khama, confirmed during a State of the Nation address on 09 November 2015 that Botswana Railways (BR) will reintroduce a passenger rail service in the country. The service will run between Lobatse, located 70 km south of the capital Gaborone in South-Eastern Botswana, and Francistown, located about 400 km north-northeast from Gaborone in eastern Botswana. The plan is to operate a daily scheduled night services from each end, with additional services during holidays. The passenger rail service in Botswana is expected to commence in March 2016.

Botswana: Botswana Railways (BR) set to launch tourist train

update (10 December 2014): According to mmegi.bw, Botswana Railways (BR) passenger trains are expected back on the track in Botswana at the end of 2015.

According to Yarona FM, a private radio station in Botswana, Botswana Railways (BR) has announced plans to introduce a tourist train similar to South Africa's Shosholoza Meyl to offer both local and international tourists an opportunity to explore Botswana and the neighboring countries. A possible route for the new tourist train will be from Francistown in Botswana to Bulawayo and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) before reaching Livingstone (Zambia) and back into Botswana. Sounds like an ambitious plan. We'll keep you posted!

Post by Yarona FM News-The Real Story.