From the harbour in Nouadhibou to the ore mines in Zouerate, Guelb el Rhein and M'houdat there is a 704 kilometer (437 miles) single track, standard gauge railway, built between 1960 and 1963 (extension in the 1980'). There are about 3 to 4 daily ore train running to the coast, and the same empty in the opposite direction. The trains are sometimes more then 2 kilometer long. On the section between Zouerate, Choum and Ben Amira there is circulating the "Train du Désert" on order for tourist groups. Loaded trains circulate with up to 50 km/h, empty up to 60 km/h. The track is beeing upgraded to 30 ton axle load with 136 lbs rails (67,41 kg/meter) and new concrete ties instead of steel or wooden ties.
