From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A truck in Mauritania carrying a lot of people and goods

Railways

• 717 km total of single track 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+¹⁄₂ in) (standard gauge), owned and operated by a government mining company S.N.I.M.. The railway goes from the mine at Zouerat, passing the mine at Fderik, and ends at the port of Nouadhibou/Cansado.
• One of the world's longest trains (up to 2.5 km long) runs here, with more than 200 wagons mainly transporting iron ore, and some carriages for passengers; alternatively, people sit on top of the iron piles ^[1][2][3].

Rail links with adjacent countries

• Western Sahara - no - no railways
• Algeria - no - same gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+¹⁄₂ in)
• Mali - no- Break of gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+¹⁄₂ in)/1,000 mm (3 ft 3+³⁄₈ in)
• Senegal - no - Break of gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+¹⁄₂ in)/1,000 mm (3 ft 3+³⁄₈ in)

Towns served by rail

• Fderik - mine
• Zouerat - mine
• Nouadhibou - port
• Cansado - port

Towns proposed to be served by rail

• Nouakchott - port and national capital
• Tiguint
• Mederdra
• R'Kiz
• Leguatt
• Leeleibatt
• Menjem Boffal
• Kaedi
• Bofal - phosphate mine

Maps

• [4]
• [5]
• UNJLC Map

Links

• [6]

Timeline

2008

• May - 8 new EMD locomotives ^[4]

• Deal signed for line to Kaedi.^[5]

2007

• Sunday, August 5, 2007 - Sudan, China To Build $630 Mln Mauritania Railway.

Sudan's Danfodio Holding and China's Transtech Engineering have signed an agreement to build a 460 million euro ($634 million) railway linking Mauritania's capital Nouakchott with southern phosphate deposits at Bofal.^[6] The 430 km (290 mile) line would run close to the southern frontier with Senegal. It is hoped that the new line would link with existing lines just across the border in Senegal, Mali ^[7] There is no through link to Burkina Faso. There are problems of choice of gauge.

Highways

A truck in Mauritania carrying people, goats and other goods across the desert.

Mauritania has only about 2,070 km (1,286 miles) of surfaced roads, 710 km (441 miles) of unsurfaced roads, and 5,140 km (3,194 miles) of unimproved tracks.^[8] The country’s size and harsh climate make road maintenance and repair especially problematic.^[8] Overland travel is difficult and roadside assistance is almost nonexistent.^[8] Public transportation is not safe and road conditions in Mauritania are generally poor, particularly in the interior.^[8] Driving in Mauritania can be treacherous, and many Mauritanians drive without regard to traffic signs or rules.^[8] Roadway obstructions and hazards caused by drifting sand, animals, and poor roads often plague motorists.^[8]

International highways

The Cairo-Dakar Highway in the Trans-African Highway network passes through Mauritania, and has recently been paved between the capital Nouakchott and the port of Nouadhibou, only a few kilometres remain unpaved at the Morocco border [7]. From Dakar there are links throughout West Africa.

The north-western end of the Trans-West African Coastal Highway is considered by ECOWAS to originate in Nouakchott.

Waterways

• Mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River

Ports and Harbours

Atlantic Ocean

(from north to south)

• Bogue
• Nouadhibou
• Nouakchott
• Rosso

Senegal River

• Kaedi

Merchant marine

• None as of 2002

Airports (paved)

• 9 in total (2002)
• 3 are of length 2,438 to 3,047 m
• 6 are of length 1,524 to 2,437 m

Airports (unpaved)

• 17 in total (2002)
• 2 are of length 2,438 to 3,047 m
• 5 are of length 1,524 to 2,437 m
• 7 are of length 914 to 1,523 m
• 3 are of length under 914 m

See also

• Mauritania
• Heaviest trains
• Longest trains

References

Economy of Mauritania Currency: Mauritanian ouguiya Banking Banking  · Banque Arabe Africaine en Mauritanie  · Banque Arabe Liyenne Mauritaienne pour le Commerce Exterieur  · Banque Internationale pour la Mauritanie  · Banque Maurienienne Nationale  · Banque Mauritanienne pour le Commerce International  · Banque Mauritanienne pour le Developpement et le Commerce  · Banque Mondiale en Mauritanie  · Caisse Centrale de Cooperation Economique  · Chinguitty Bank  · Generale de Banque de Mauritanie pour l'Investissement et le Commerce  · Union de Banques de Development Communications Communications  · History of Trade  · Transportation Industries: Agriculture  · Tourism