The station proudly marked GARE de VOYAGEURS is located in the sand in the northern outskirts of the town… In fact it is only one little shelter abondoned during the day. People appear around 1 pm. The train is departing according to the schedule daily at 2.50 pm. It was 2 pm when I disembark there the taxi /500 ougija/ carrying in the heat my backpack, good supply of food and water and ready for the railway adventure.
This is private railway built to carry from Zouerat into the coast the iron ore -in fact the only resource of Mauritania. Once a day they attach one passenger car to the 2.5 km long train. They say it is the longest operating train in the world. -Monsieur, do you want a ticket?
You can travel for free in the ore carriage under the sky – in the dust. Passenger carriage gives some comfort… for 1000 ougija.
3 pm, 4 pm… the train arrived at 5 pm. Hurry up… it is only 10 min stop: one entry for ladies and one for gents – to avoid harrashment… Uff… inside it looks like a dusty cattle carriage – most peple just lay on the floor. What a experience! 11 hours in such a crowdy car! Dust and noise but you are going on! At 4 am in the dark we landed in Choum. Junky landcruiser took us for 2000 ougija to 4 hours distant Atar – promised land after such a trip… Enjoy your Mauritania!
