World’s most dangerous train journey has no seats, no roof, train travels 704 kilometers without a single stop, it is called…, runs from…
Most of us have experienced a peaceful train ride — watching green fields blur past, feeling the breeze through the window, maybe sipping hot chai at a sleepy station. But far from this calm, there’s a train that offers an entirely different kind of journey. Stretching up to 3 kilometers, the Iron Ore Train of Mauritania is one of the world’s longest, heaviest, and most dangerous trains. It travels nonstop across the scorching Sahara Desert, carrying massive loads of iron ore.
Through the Heart of the Sahara
Mauritania, a vast and arid country in West Africa, is home to some of the richest iron ore deposits in the world. These mines lie deep within the burning sands of the Sahara Desert, far from cities and civilization. To move the heavy ore from the remote mining town of Zouérat to the port city of Nouadhibou on the Atlantic coast, a special train was born — one that would soon become a legend.
This iron monster travels 704 kilometers across the desert, taking about 14 hours to complete its journey. It passes through landscapes that seem endless sand dunes, sun-baked plains, and windswept wilderness.
200 wagons, no stops, no comfort
This train isn’t like the ones we know. It doesn’t have seats, compartments, or even a roof. It’s made up of over 200 open freight wagons, each loaded with 84 tons of iron ore. Locals call it “Train du Desert” — the Train of the Desert.
Despite the harsh conditions, some Mauritanian locals still hop on for a free ride. There’s no ticket, no assigned space. Passengers sit right on top of the ore, wrapping themselves in scarves to shield from the burning sun and swirling desert sand.
There’s no station in between. No food. No water. No help if something goes wrong. And yet, people ride it — because in some parts of Mauritania, this is the only affordable way to travel long distances.
A Route full of danger
The train begins its journey in Zouérat, a town near the Western Sahara border — an area known for armed groups and terrorist activity, including Al-Qaeda affiliates. The safest place to board is a town called Choum, but even there, you’re on your own. If anything happens, there’s no rescue team waiting nearby.
Temperatures during the summer soar beyond 50°C, and sandstorms can appear out of nowhere. Yet, the train rolls on, day after day, through a landscape that looks like another planet.
A brief history
The Mauritania iron ore train has been running since 1963. It was built not for people, but for purpose — to carry wealth from the earth across one of the most unforgiving terrains on Earth.
Today, the train is pulled by two or more powerful engines, groaning under the weight of thousands of tons of metal. Every day, it makes its epic journey across the Sahara.
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