A massive train, stretching over three kilometers and made up of up to 200 wagons, operates in Mauritania, carrying iron ore from the Kédia mine in Idjil to the port of Nouadhibou. This train, operated by the National Industrial and Mining Company (SNIM), runs along a single-track line that spans 704 kilometers through the Sahara Desert. It is the only such railway in the region and can reach a maximum speed of 60 kilometers per hour. The train is powered by three to four locomotives, including models like the SDL 40 or SDL 70, which are painted in the distinctive SNIM blue and sand color scheme. The railway was constructed by France on behalf of MIFERMA, a company that mined iron ore in the area during the mid-20th century. The line was completed in 1963 and has since been maintained by the SNIM, which now oversees the infrastructure. This railway is a crucial part of Mauritania’s economy, supporting the transportation of iron ore from the remote desert mines to the coast. The line connects Zouerate, a key mining town, with Nouadhibou, a major port on the Atlantic Ocean, enabling the export of the country’s most valuable resource. Travelers in Mauritania sometimes ride this train, either sitting in the wagons filled with iron ore or in a dedicated passenger car. A tourist service known as the Desert Train was briefly suspended in 2009 but was later revived in 2018. However, the railway was originally designed for industrial use rather than for passengers. One end of the line is the Kédia mine in Idjil, considered one of the largest open-pit mines in the world, while the other end is the port of Nouadhibou, where the iron ore is loaded onto ships for international transport. In November 2023, a derailment occurred near the entrance to the Nouadhibou station, according to the SNIM, but no injuries were reported. Despite such incidents, this train remains essential to Mauritania’s economy. The SNIM, which operates the only railway in the country, employs more than 10,000 people, many of them based in Zouerate. Without this railway, the iron ore extracted in the desert would be impossible to transport to the coast, and thus, the country’s ability to export this vital resource would be severely limited.