TALES FROM THE TRACKS

FROM RIDING MAURITANIA'S IRON ORE TRAIN TO EXPERIENCING A RARE SOVIET-ERA RIDE, WE BRING YOU THREE INSPIRING ADVENTURES

- SHREYA CHEEMA

TRAVELLING IS NOT JUST ABOUT reaching a destination; it's about the journey. It's about the experiences we gather, the people we meet, and the stories we create. And when it comes to journeys, there's nothing quite like a train ride. Join us as we delve into the tales of three individuals who embarked on extraordinary rail adventures, each a testament to the enduring magic of the railway.

Opened in 1963, the Train du Desert in Mauritania provides a daily service that commences from the Nouadhibou port on the Atlantic coast and terminates at the iron ore mines in Zouérat, located in the northwestern part of the country. The entire journey, which skirts the border of the contentious Western Sahara territory, spans approximately 20 hours and covers a distance of 704km. The train, extending over 2km, comprises three to four diesel locomotives, a single passenger carriage, and anywhere between 200 and 210 freight cars.

The train transports passengers to and from remote desert settlements. Many Mauritanians bypass the congested passenger carriage and travel "second-class" in the freight cars at no cost. However, this mode of travel is noisy, unclean, and perilous: falls are frequent, and daytime temperatures can easily exceed 40 degrees Celsius.

In 2021, Navankur Chaudhary, a doctor and YouTuber with 1.5 million followers on his channel "yatri doctor," embarked on a journey aboard this train.

"I have travelled in trains in over 50 countries, but the Train du Desert was one of the most fascinating and challenging," said 27-year-old Chaudhary, who undertook this journey in April 2021.