page_title: Rail transport in Botswana
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Rail transport in Botswana / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Rhodesia Railway car at the National Museum in Gaborone, Botswana
context_page_description: Rail services in Botswana are provided by Botswana Railways in Botswana. Most routes in the country radiate from Gaborone. The railway network consists of 888 km, its gauge is 1,067 mm cape gauge.
  Botswana is an associate member of the International Union of Railways. Botswana has the 93rd railway network in the world, it is one of the busiest railways in Africa.
context_section_description: BR was created in 1987 when the government of Botswana bought out the Botswana-based sections of the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ). NRZ had been initially operating the rail system after Botswana had gained independence. Management of the BR is supported by RITES Ltd. of India.
  The opening of the Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway in Zimbabwe in 1999 resulted in a major drop in the volume of freight transit and income. As a response the BR has been considering the construction of a direct line to Zambia (Zambia Railways), bypassing Zimbabwe, to regain income from transit.
caption: Historic Rhodesia Railway car at the National Museum in Gaborone, Botswana
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