There is also a restaurant at the same place called Nakhletein. Thats why it is incredibly important to have a local guide who will be able to arrange your trip and receive the latest updates on the departure to ensure you dont miss the train. The film is currently being shown in festivals around the world . In The Mauritania Railway: Backbone of the Sahara documentary we rode atop a hopper car and journeyed through vast Saharan landscapes with the people who rely on the train for their income and survival. I recommend going there at 11am. From Zourat to Choum takes 4 hours, approximately, so the train can leave at any moment between 3pm and 10pm, but it may be delayed even more. Mauritania was briefly in control of the territory of where the railroad could have and should have been built to avoid unnecessary life and cost. It was getting close to 23:00 when we finished and our car-mates decided to turn in for the night. Our Mauritanian friends had brought us to the train station and were waiting with us, chatting it up with other passengers and ultimately made friends on our behalf with three men who were apparently also getting off at Choum. The history of rail transport in Mauritania began in 1940, with the commencement of preparatory work for the construction of the Mauritania Railway, a single track, 704 km (437 mi) standard gauge line connecting a then proposed iron mine in Zouerate with the port of Nouadhibou, via Fderik and Choum. Our friend asked if we would rather have our own car or ride with the men and we opted to join their group and ride together. He is currently residing in Abu Dhabi leading tours in Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. And of course, this was another instance where pictures and stories had not done it any justice. MAURITANIA RAILWAY . However, if youre boarding a wagon full of iron ore you can pick a corner you all agree to use and you wont have to worry about going to the toilet as the rocks and Iron Ore dust will cover it along the journey. Feel free to get in contact with us if you have anymore enquiries. They are going to be mad expensive and we ended up being able to hitchhike the next morning but thats definitely not a guarantee. The train departs from Zourat mines but the actual station is in a small settlement named Fderik, 24km from Zourat towards Choum. Also check our travel guide to Mauritania. The Mauritania Railway just got served Today we did a thing: We began in Nouadhibou where we picked up some supplies for the epic train journey ahead. In the spring of 2016, I traveled to the Sahara desert to ride the legendary Mauritanian iron ore train. On our tours we include blankets and a straw mat to make the journey more conformable. Really good info and written beautifully! Our tours are very flexible in terms of itinerary, interests and we can cater to your budget too! Regions. The railwaymen call this place Point Central or, in short, PC. Mauritania offers endless, almost untouched sand dunes in the Western Sahara, green oases with singing birds instead of crowds of tourists, and the Kediet Ijill, at 915 mt above sea level the highest mountain in the country. Nighttime came quick and although our car-mates were still trying to get dinner prepared, we took the opportunity to try and get some shut eye, which was convenient because my eyes were already almost always closed at this point since it was finally way too dark for my sunglasses. I expected the inhospitality of the environment to make the whole trip quite hard (poor country + Sahara desert in August), and basically wanted to do a badass adventure just for the sake of it. They were very intrigued by our chess board so we attempted to teach them how to play but our lesson was interrupted by the time to pray. Depending on which direction you go, you will either be riding on top of a mass of iron ore, towering above the lackluster tracks, or you will be inside the cars, jostling around, hoping that no nefarious people hop in. Mine left around 3pm. that is . In the morning well focus on the loaded trains to Nouadhibou, while in the late afternoon the empty trains are of interest. I prefer type 2 and type 1, but you wont get a choice once the train arrives. Zourat Zourat is the starting point, a mining town located in the northeast of Mauritania, around 700km from the coast, where the iron mines are. Personal expenses like telephone calls, laundry service etc. I think most of the places I stayed at were the same as those you stated on other articles, apart form the hotel in Nouakchott. Over adventurous tracks we drive to the green oasis Terjit. Often described on the internet as the most dangerous train in the world, the iron ore train of Mauritania has become famous among travelers to the region. Two pairs of trains run daily. Whether all these are in use is impossible to forecast, well find out on the spot. WikiMatrix (c)in Mauritania railway sleepers which were delivered (3,9 Mio ECU) did not all correspond to the technical specifications set out in the contract. We figured there would be little chance of us getting a ride that late at night and if we did we were either going to get charged a ridiculous amount of money or likely get a ride with some sketchy people we did not have the brain power to confront. The daily runs of the track gang speeders have some influence on the timetable. Im planning to go to Mauritania and ride the train in April. The copyright on all material in this magazine is expressly reserved and vested in Rail Link Communications cc, unless otherwise stated. The massive, heavy cars, each one capable of carrying up to 84 tons of . Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. Get to Atar, get to sleep. Thank you for bringing out the kid, I mean the adventurer in me. The Mauritania Railway, opened in 1963, consists of a single, 704-kilometer (437 mi) railway line linking the iron mining center of Zouerat with the port of Nouadhibou. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. I felt way much safer during my 10 days in Mauritania than during the 1 day layover in Tunis. There were already quite a few people waiting, mostly in the paid passenger area, which offered minimal (but not much) shade from the relentless Harmattan sun. The train is up to 3km (1.8 miles) in length, travels on a single track of 704 kilometres (437 miles), with 200 - 300 freight carriages, weighing up to a total of 84 tons and making it the longest and heaviest train in the world. But bring more. Have you got what it takes? Well as it turned out, I liked the country more than I could possibly imagine. With our 4WD cars well chase trains in the desert. From the small mining town to the Nouadhibou coast, you will be riding with ore packed in your freight car. The Mauritania Railway: Backbone of the Sahara follows the journey of Malick, a 27 year-old merchant who relies on the train for his livelihood, even as he risks death . This also means the arrival time is not fixed to a certain time and a single trip can take from 11 to 15 hours. It would take us about 13 hours to Zourate, hence well split this long ride into sections. The train stopped another two times before we reached Choum and every time it did, we had a solid 15-20 minutes before it started up again. Summer The sun will be harsh but nights will be warmer. Youll not suffer from the daily dance performance alongside the battle for the cold buffet each evening. SNIM owns and operates its own railway. You mentioned the iron ore as toxic. The train is not bound to any timetable and may leave earlier or later than the usual departure time locals may inform you. It was one of the most beautiful scenes from our travels and we had that feeling you get when you feel you are part of something special, like you are the only person getting a chance to witness a secret spectacle. Later well continue towards the mine city Zourate where weve booked the best available hotel. With these few tips in mind, you are set to enjoy an experience of a lifetime riding the mineral train of Mauritania. However, the station isnt very far from the town and if its not too late, you may find cars going to Atar. Well carry sufficient food, tea and water with us. The SNIM company, which is responsible for the passenger traffic (the wagon at the end of train V3 and M4), is called TFM. Vimeo Staff Picks From Africa. At 3-kilometers in length, trains on this line are among the longest and heaviest in the world. The Most Extreme Railway in the World Nov 22, 2018 At 430 miles long, the formidable Mauritania Railway, nicknamed the "backbone of the Sahara," boasts some of the longest and heaviest trains in the world. The Point Noire-Brazzeville train through Congo is on my list too. Always use common sense when crossing roads and railway tracks. CREDITS:: Director: Macgregor. We prepare immediate accommodation on arrival in the town of Choum or Nouadhibou for those weary travellers. Here well leave the railway and head south-east for Atar, the home of ancient Mercedes 190 models. I at least had my sunglasses, which I wore well after the light had faded and it was impossible to see anything with them. Throwing in the wind-chill factor and it can get freezing past midnight. This would be the perfect adventure. Do we need to book hotels in advance? They all gracefully bent down touching their heads to the ground and stood back up repeatedly, eyes closed, without faltering, which I found to be very impressive considering the train was still jolting all over the place and I found it hard enough to just sit upright without losing my balance. You can expect your entire body to shake with the very loud noise caused by this, at any given time. Category: Travel Tags: Africa, hitchhiking, Mauritania, trains, Travel, This is an amazing account. This time the company focuses on the African continent. THE MAURITANIA RAILWAY ACCOLADES:: Vimeo Staff Pick. And second, because one of the good things about arriving in Nouadhibou is that it is a city with all modern comforts, filled with all types of hotel where you can get a good shower after the long, dirty ride, besides having plenty of food options. This is a very dusty mode of transport, but the old SNCF passenger coach isnt much better. Exporting this mineral has become one of the basic pillars of the impoverished Mauritanian economy, and the train journey is an essential part of the process. Between 1961 and 1963, the mining company Socit Anonyme des Mines de Fer de la Mauritanie built a 652km long standard gauge line from the Atlantic port of Nouadhibou to the iron ore mines in Zourate. At that point we knew we had been misled/confused/misinformedwhatever had transpired, there was a miscommunication and we were not without a ride, in the wee hours of the morning. If you are interested in traveling through the old USSR, YPT are your people. Read: How safe is traveling in Mauritania. It will include the development of 170 miles (273.5km) of new track between South Florida and Orlando. Our car-mate returned from the darkness after a few minutes and proceeded to just sit down on the tracks and ask us what we were still doing there. Browse through our extensive North Korean group tour schedule to find a group tour that best suits you and your budget. He is also the author of Against the Compass, an alternative travel blog, quite different from the rest, which aims at HELPING and INSPIRING you to do the same, always in a responsible way, with no rush, showing you the human side of the story and, above all, in a safe manner. www.Rail-Pass.com No 1 Pricing for Rail Pass & Rail Tickets + Train Tickets www.Rail-Pass.com is a travel portal selling all modes of travel at No 1 Pricing with no additional fees The line was opened in 1963. The line was opened in 1963. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Join our Mauritania EXPEDITION in Feb 8th to 15th (2023), Join our Mauritania EXPEDITION in Do you like what we do? Our unconventional 700km journey took us right through the Sahara to reach the coast . The loading facilities for iron ore are in Zourate, El Rhein and M'Haoudat. Its right next to the ore mining area of the Socit Nationale Industrielle et Minire. It is not uncommon for travellers to bring and pitch a tent within the freight car for extra comfort. About 15 wagons away, I was able to make out a Mauritanian loading tens of goats and, a few wagons further along, another man seemed to be loading more than 30 suitcases, as if he decided to move out to his new place riding on the Iron Ore Train. The train itself reaches up to 2.5km in length and traverses 704km on one track. Its complicated, especially because your hands will become dirty as soon as you get in, so I recommend bringing only food that can be eaten without touching, like bananas or a sandwich wrapped in aluminum foil, for example. It was a you had to be there moment. Click here to skip the other content and read my tips about how to ride the Iron Ore Train. Directed, produced and photographed by Macgregormacgregor.worksShot on a modified Sony F35 to achieve optimum lightness and speed through the Saharan landsca. I barely slept, but felt comfortable. Morning temperatures can drop to twelve degrees Centigrade. . The problem, however, was that it was a 2.5km long train that stopped in the middle of the desert, in a particularly inhospitable place with no signposts and markers, and walking along it with all my luggage, plus the several liters of water needed for the 20-hour trip across the desert wasnt a very appealing idea. If you're serious about this experience, you should definitely pack goggles, warm blankets, scarves, some sort of breathing mask, plenty of water, food, and warm [] This experience is the real Mauritanian experience. Sanitizer masks to prevent from breathing all the dust. Nouadhibou Mauritanias second city and economic capital is the trains final destination, where the iron ore is unloaded and made ready to be shipped to different parts of the world. Mauritania is currently the United States' 172nd largest goods trading partner with USD 189 million in total (two-way) goods trade. Mauritania Train Companies & Mauritania Railroad Companies . The second phase of the Brightline high-speed rail project will extend the railway line from West Palm Beach to Orlando. The train arrives and you jump on, thats it. What caught our attention here at YPT are that the owners of the railway the state agency Socit Nationale Industrielle et Minire, SNIMor in English National Mining and Industrial Company allows locals and tourists to board the train and use it as a mean of transportation between inland of the country and the coastline. My sleep deprived brain played through these scenarios for about 5 seconds before I became too tired to be paranoid or really even care. We will follow this concept and win more and more customers' satisfaction. In the desert, no medical aid is available. The Mass Games is the worlds largest performance as approved by the Guinness Book of Records with over 100,000 individual performers participating in a synchronised dance or gymnastics act held in the worlds largest stadium. The official departing time from Zourat is 11am but I was told that it has never departed before 12-12:30pm and, unofficially, they say the train can leave at any time between 12pm and 6pm, or even later. You'll most likely find it here. The railway operation has its own flair. Theres much more history, geographical diversity and I just prefer the Middle East over the Maghreb. Hi Sam, just book your hotel in Nouakchott. Bring heaps of water with you. The short doc was shot entirely on a Sony F35 that was modified to use a . Carrying some toiletries in your photo bag is hence advisable. Weve heard of people putting up their tents in the cars, which would be a great idea. In any case, riding this train was enough motive for making a trip to Mauritania. Also, you should visit Suriname. We were able to lay down and sleep safely(ish) without having to worry about falling off when the train jerks around every time it slows down or speeds up (again, this happens throughout the entire journey). Said to be the same as. . Bear in mind that hefty delays are common and unpredictable. The iron ore is transported from the mines in the desert to the port of discharge on the peninsula of Ras Nouadhibou, in Casado. Built to transport Mauritania's vast iron ore reserves, the Mauritania Railway is a 704-kilometer line that cuts through the Sahara Desert on its way from the mining center of Zouerat to the port city of Nouadhibou on Africa's Atlantic coast. I went from being comfortable (enough) and close to dozing off to being freezing and under dressed in what seemed like mere minutes! Also, for those wondering, Mauritania is indeed perfectly safe as long as you stay out of red zones. Browse 232 mauritania train stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. The train stops a few kilometers outside of Nouadhibou, in the middle of nowhere, where several taxis will be waiting for the passengers. When I returned from Mauritania, many were surprised not by the train journey itself but how I even discovered the existence of such a tourist attraction. What weve discovered is ultimately the experience of a lifetime by blasting through the Sahara under the pristine desert sky, gazing upon the stars and being rocked by the sheer power of the locomotive. After solving these problems the new EMD locos now serving most of the freight trains. Tips for local guides, 4WD drivers, extras, crews etc. Thanks! Why was this an embarrassment? West Africa. One other advantage of riding in the empty freight car is that youll be able to move around to warm yourself up. . The Mauritania Railway is the national railway of Mauritania.Construction of the line began in 1960, with it opening in 1963. My daughters have been living in Barcelona for many years now, and I go there quite often he said. Marlon Brawndo - 2021-02-08 . We arrived in Nouadhibou at 7:30am, shortly after sunrise, so if you had taken the train in Choum on that day, you would have only gotten 10 minutes of sunlight. Whilst youre in Choum youll notice mountains to the east and where the railway track take a sharp left turn up north to Zouerate. The Mauritania Railway is a 704-kilometer lifeline linking the iron-mining centre of Zouerat with the port of Nouadhibou.
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