A colossal cargo train in northwest Africa is one of the heaviest in the world and is so long you can barely make out the wagons at the back as it zooms past.
Mauritania’s desert train, also known as the iron ore train, was created back in 1963 and transports through the Sahara desert as much as 84 tonnes of the valuable mineral substance in each of its 200 wagons.
The 700 kilometre-route links iron ore mines in Zouérat in the north with the port of Nouadhibou on the country’s Atlantic coast.
The locomotive is one of the world’s longest, and is crucial to the economy of Mauritania, where the mining sector contributed 22 percent to the GDP in 2022, according to the African Development Bank Group.
The Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière (SNIM), which operates the train, is cited by the bank group as one of the firms leading growth in the sector.
The mega-train has also become a symbol of the country’s industry and economic potential throughout the internal struggles and climate challenges the country has faced.
The UK’s Foreign and Development Office currently advises against all travel to various parts of Mauritania, including Nouadhibou and Zouérat, noting the risk of terrorism, crime, and political instability in the country.
Operators of the train service have faced various logistical challenges throughout its history, including having to change the route to bypass areas controlled by the Polisario Front, a Sahrawi movement advocating for the independence of the Western Saharan territory.
Nonetheless, the service has continued to be the backbone of mineral resource transport for the region, InfoBae reports.
The train reportedly doesn’t follow a fixed schedule, departing only when fully loaded before returning once the cargo has been removed in Nouadhibou.
The route’s unpredictable timetable and extreme desert conditions make it and challenging journey for both operators and the small number of passengers who hitch rides on it.
Temperatures can rise above 45C during the day and drop sharply at night, while sandstorms can reduce visibility and reportedly cause damage to the train’s operating systems.
Added to that, the train has been targeted by attacks throughout its history and lacks basic amenities, such as toilets in most carriages, for those who travel on it.
For many people, this service has become an important link to the rest of the country, and some passengers even opt to travel on top of the loads of iron ore under the baking sun.
Among those using the train are the Bedouin, nomadic groups who inhabit areas near the train tracks. Some camps have been set up near its stops to have access to goods and services.
Other villages also use it to transport goods and livestock, in a region where mobility is limited.
SNIM has been approached for comment.
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