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 >>