[citation needed] The opening of the Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway in Zimbabwe in 1999 resulted in a major drop in the volume of freight transit and income.

[5] A passenger service between Gaborone and Lobatse, marketed under the name BR Express, eventually began operation in March 2016.

[6] The Botswana Railways system consists of 888 kilometres (552 mi) of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Cape gauge track.

The main line runs through the south-eastern region of Botswana from Mahikeng in South Africa through Lobatse, Gaborone, Mahalapye, Palapye and Francistown to Plumtree in Zimbabwe.

The line was envisaged as running south-westwards from Livingstone, crossing the Zambezi, then continuing to a junction with the existing BR tracks at Mosetse.

The suggested line, Lunga pointed out, would provide important alternative routes linking South Africa, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.