This incredible train pulls some 300 84-ton carriages across the desert in northwest Africa. (Image: Getty)
Crossing the desert in northwest is the incredible Mauritania , also known as the iron ore train, whose carriages extend so far into the distance that they disappear from view.
The was created to transport as much as 84 tons of valuable minerals in each of its 300 or so carriages. Each year, the total traffic averages an incredible 16.6 million tons per year.
The remarkable 437-mile single railway line route links the iron ore mines in Zouérat in the north with the port of Nouadhibou on the country’s coast through some of the most desolate yet stunning landscapes on Earth.
The train is one of the world’s longest, and forms a crucial part of the economy of Mauritania, where the mining sector contributed 22% to the GDP in 2022, according to the .
Construction of the line began in 1960 and it opening in 1963. It proved such a success and provided such a major portion of Mauritania’s GDP that it was nationalised in 1974.
:
Many passengers simply ride on top of the ore hopper cars freely. (Image: Getty)
However, following Mauritania’s annexation of southern Western in 1976, the line came under constant attack by Polisario militia, which effectively put the line out of action and had a severe impact on the region’s economy.
This played a major role in prompting the army to overthrow Mauritanian President Moktar Ould Daddah in 1978, followed by a withdrawal from Western Sahara the following year. After repairs, the line reopened in the early 1980s.
The train does not follow a fixed schedule. It departs only when fully loaded and returns once the cargo has been removed in .
The route’s unpredictable timetable and extreme desert conditions make it a challenging journey for both operators and the few passengers who are brave enough to hitch a ride on it.
Passenger cars are sometimes attached to freight trains, but more often, passengers simply ride on top of the ore hopper cars freely. As passengers are not the train’s priority, it lacks basic amenities such as toilets for those who travel on it.
Temperatures in Mauritania can rise above 45C during the day and plummet to near freezing at night. also reduce visibility and can damage the train’s operating systems.
Don’t miss… [REVEAL]
The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to various parts of Mauritania due to risks of terrorism and crime. (Image: Getty)
The UK currently advises against all travel to various parts of Mauritania due to risks of terrorism and crime. All travel to areas within 16 miles of the Western Sahara border is not advised – except the section of the Nouakchott-Nouadhibou road within 16 miles of the Western Sahara border and the city of Nouadhibou.
In January 2019, the railway resumed after a 10-year hiatus; part of the track ran through a forbidden tourist area. One of the stops on the tourist route is an iron mine.
Joan Torres, of , decided to hop aboard the train and experience the arduous journey first-hand.
“It was 1pm and, apparently, the train could show up at any time between 11am and 7pm, so I was there waiting, with the uncertainty that the train could arrive at any moment,” she wrote.
“Despite a 20-hour journey in which I barely slept, ate, and ended up covered in dark, toxic dust, I got off the train with a huge smile from ear to ear.”