Assuming things go smoothly and there isnt any breakdown, the journey takes 18-20 hours from Zourat. This is the sharp 90 degree corner where Western Sahara borders Mauritania. I think the worst part of the journey is not being able to sleep for the entire night but otherwise, the iron ore is soft. Otherwise the police will waste your time, like they made me waste mine. You see nothing besides the starry night and well, I am not going to lie, but from that moment it can get tough, but not as bad as you may think, and, by the end of the day, the whole experience makes up for it. Whilst the passenger wagon is designed for actual passengers with multiple berths of 6 bunks, remember theres no conductor. The scenery is incredible, the adventure will get your blood pumping and a sure way to bond tighter friendships in your group. All the people are friendly and helpful. The train is not bound to any timetable and may leave earlier or later than the usual departure time locals may inform you. The Sahara Railway is one of the most extreme in the world. That visceral experience was exactly what we got as we slithered night and day through the vast uninhabited desert, sleeping on top of Mauritania's infamous iron ore train. In the spring of 2016, I traveled to the Sahara desert to ride the legendary Mauritanian iron ore train. Description: English: Travellers loading a wagon of the Mauritanian Iron Ore Train. The train itself reaches up to 2.5km in length and traverses 704km on one track. Young Pioneer Tours are the leading budget and adventure travel operator in the DPRK (North Korea). From the top of the iron ore, being able to overlook the vastness of the Sahara beyond the horizon, while greeting the occasional Bedouin and witnessing a breathtaking sunset, was an unbeatable experience, and I get goosebumps just thinking about it. The film is currently being shown in festivals around the world . Carrying some toiletries in your photo bag is hence advisable. In this direction, the cars are empty, which was great because we got to enjoy tea and dinner made by our car-mates (in Mauritania it is sacrilegious to go longer than a few waking hours without tea). 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. 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. At 3-kilometers in length, trains on this line are among the longest and heaviest in the world. We discourage packing or hauling large luggage around Africa so allow us to assist you with what are the essentials to pack to better prepare you for your Saharan train journey. Get to Atar, get to sleep. However, it was truly one of the coolest, objectively badass things we have done traveling. The result is The Mauritania Railway: Backbone of the Sahara, a short documentary that delicately balances spellbinding vistas with a touching reflection on human resilience. All rights reserved. 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. Two of the major reasons, cited to account for this situation, countries. Some engineers invited me into one of the locomotives, where they gave me a small tour around the tiny compartment, while they also prepared some Mauritanian tea, which we all drank together later. During the construction of the railway in the 1960s, the French did not want their railway to enter Western Sahara which at the time was Spanish territory located just west of the mountains. (LogOut/ The length of the trains and their load, up to 17,000 metric tons, is an amazing sight. I wished I had gone full Mad Max and brought goggles and a face-mask. Directed, produced and photographed by Macgregormacgregor.worksShot on a modified Sony F35 to achieve optimum lightness and speed through the Saharan landsca. Hi Joan, do you have any recommendations for women travelling there, although you are male and it might be hard to imagine how your travel would have been if you would be a female in relation to the interaction with local men (did you also interact with local women?) However, one of our car-mates had conveyed to us that he was also going to Atar and we could go together so we didnt feel the need to rush the already full taxis. in the ex-SNCF passenger coach of TFM with compartments and a non-subdivided passenger compartment in the centre, in the large brake van with sleeper compartments, non-subdivided compartments and a viewing platform. At that time it laid completely in Mauritania and had to cross a mountainous section. THE MAURITANIA RAILWAY ACCOLADES:: Vimeo Staff Pick. We suggest you take out a comprehensive overseas accident and health insurance policy as well as travel cancellation insurance. The train was built to transport iron from the giant mines of Zouerate in the center of the country to the largest port city of Nouadhibou. You may think that the desert is always hot, but the truth is that when the sun goes down, the temperature sinks dramatically. On our cultural travels, a chef will travel with us and offer us some traditional food. This experience is the real Mauritanian experience. I was standing but was not really aware of my body; my jaw hurt from clenching it so hard all night (probably in anticipation of becoming a human pinball again); I knew I needed water but didnt feel thirsty. The four different modes to travel on the trains are: The TFM passenger coach is often crowded and in a poor and smelly condition. As long as you wear warm clothes, enough water, cover up your face and dont balance on the edge of the wagon unnecessarily, it should not be dangerous, not at all. Whether all these are in use is impossible to forecast, well find out on the spot. Loco wise, the variety is very limited. . I went to the desert for adventure and I found it. Both of the longest trips will take more than ten hours without photo stops. The Mauritania Railway is a 704-kilometer lifeline linking the iron-mining centre of Zouerat with the port of Nouadhibou. 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. The upkeep of the tunnel was adding further unnecessary expenses so in 1991 the tunnel was totally abandoned. 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. Mauritania's railway network consists of the single, 704 km long track, connecting port in Nouadhibou with Zouerate, which is the main iron mining centre of the country. Its very dirty, old, worn out, and overcrowded. Its journey begins in Zouerat, Mauritania, where 22,000 tons of iron ore are mined. I felt way much safer during my 10 days in Mauritania than during the 1 day layover in Tunis. There are two options for riding the train which offer, Im sure, two very different experiences. Browse through our extensive North Korean group tour schedule to find a group tour that best suits you and your budget. An increase of axle load to 30 tons is planned. From there well climb the Amoghar Pass and continue to the famous desert city Chinguetti. August 30, 2018. INTERPIPE has signed a 3-year contract with the Mauritanian State Railways (Socit Nationale Industrielle et Minire) for the supply of 1076 mm diameter locomotive wheels according to the AAR standard, reports Railway Supply magazine, citing the manufacturer. This is the exact location for both stations, Fderik and Choum. The Mauritania Railway: Backbone of the Sahara is earning early praise, including the top prize for cinematography at the XVI International Film Festival of Almeria, and the jury prize for stylistic achievement and best cinematography at the Social Impact Media Awards 2018. The sun dips in the sky becoming massive and red because of the dust and sand particles in the air. Not even in the small ways that we feel we know the people who give us rides hitchhiking. The only iron ore that remains is the dust which is bad but not nearly as horrible as you might think. Feb 8th to 15th (2023). Apart from the arriving trains, there are only a few movements to be seen in Nouadhibou during daylight. Finally, close to 21:00, dinner was ready, although we were a bit apprehensive about eating due to the super unhygienic cooking process coupled with the fear of getting the shits on the train. Yes, you can, but I dont recommend it for two reasons: Most travelers catch the train in Choum, for the simple reason that its closer to Nouadhibou, hence they cut the journey a few hours short. From that point, I was all by myself, alone in the middle of nowhere, until the Train du Desert finally came, 200 wagons pulled by an EMD electric-diesel locomotive with an Arabic acronym that said SNIM (Socit Nationale Industrielle et Minire) written on its side. The-Mauritania-Railway-Backbone-of-the-Sahara. What I recommend is going to the railway office (located here) to ask for the approximate departure time from that day in particular. The Mauritania Railway: Backbone of the Sahara from Macgregor on Vimeo. The Mauritania Railway: Backbone of the Sahara: Desc: Among the heaviest trains in the world. The daily runs of the track gang speeders have some influence on the timetable. 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 standard gauge line connecting a then proposed iron mine in Zouerate with the port of Nouadhibou, via Fderik and Choum.wikipedia Ive always wanted to do this! Those six new, 3,310 kW strong EMD locos sometimes had problems with their turbochargers. I disagree. Those two trains have a timetable, but delays of several hours are not uncommon. Atop a hopper car, we journey through vast Saharan landscapes with the people who rely on the train for their survival. The Mauritania Railway: Backbone of the Sahara is a documentary film directed by MacGregor. Rummaging through old Vimeo Staff Picks during some downtime this morning, I came across this beautiful short. For those who hate nothing more than being cold you may even bring thermals, a thermos of hot water or borrow some leftover coal to brew Saharan tea on the spot. 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