The Mediterranean-Niger-Railway (MN)[1] (French: Chemins de Fer de la Méditerranée au Niger) was a railway in Western Africa.
The Mediterranean-Niger Railway was built between the coal mining region near Bou Arfa in the east of Morocco and the Algerian rail system at Oujda, completed as a standard gauge route between Oran and Oujda in 1922, while Fes was reached in 1934.[2]
In 1940/41, construction was begun on the Algerian segment of the Mediterranean-Niger-Railway as part of the Trans-Saharan Railway. The line made a connection with the Moroccan segment, which had been completed in 1931, at Bou Arfa and continued into Algeria to connect with the 1,055 mm (3 ft 5+1⁄2 in) narrow gauge line Oran - Colomb-Béchar built in 1910.[3]
In 1963, Morocco nationalized its railroad system under the name of Moroccan Railways (Office National des Chemins de Fer du MarocONCF). MN was liquidated.[4] The part of MN from the Southern border to Colomb-Béchar was closed.[5] Colomb-Béchar was still reached by the narrow gauge line.
References
Bejui, Dominique and Pascal: Exploits et fantasmes transsahariens : 80 ans de traversées sahariennes abouties ou rêvées en auto, en camion, en train et en avion. Chanac: La Regordane, 1994. ISBN2-906984-19-1
Guide Michelin, 1956.
Lartilleux: Géographie des chemins de fer français. vol. 3. Chaix, 1949.
Pottier, René: Le Transsaharien - Liaison d'Empire. Sorlot, 1941.
