Mauritania Railway, Railway network in Nouadhibou and Zouérat, Mauritania.
The Mauritania Railway is a 704-kilometer line stretching through the Sahara, linking iron ore mines in Zouérat with the port city of Nouadhibou. Trains comprise three diesel locomotives pulling approximately 210 freight cars for ore transport, alongside separate passenger coaches for public use.
Construction began in 1960 and operations started in 1963, driving regional economic growth. Later, armed conflicts in the region caused service disruptions and operational challenges.
Local communities along the railway have woven the train schedule into their daily life, using it as a vital link between remote desert settlements.
The line crosses open desert terrain with minimal infrastructure along the route, so prepare for basic conditions on board. Bring water and provisions, and expect extended travel times through the arid landscape.
The trains reach lengths of about 3 kilometers and rank among the world's longest freight trains running regularly through extreme desert conditions. This scale allows them to move vast quantities of iron ore in a single journey.
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