Reuters quotes Mr Robert Kalomo, director of railway affairs for the
Ministry of Works, as saying the project will take five years to
complete at a cost of up to $US 9 billion.

A pre-feasibility study funded by the World Bank is due to be completed
next month. The two countries plan to select a constructor by the
middle of the year.

The line could be extended in future to serve South Africa's Waterberg
coalfield. South Africa's coal exports are currently constrained by
inadequate rail capacity on the Richards Bay line, a problem that could
be alleviated by the expansion of mining activity in the Waterberg
region.

Further extensions could also include a line to Katima Mulio on the
Zambian border, which would provide an alternative export route for
Zambian copper ore.