Long Haul Rail

The World’s Longest Railway

longhaulrail — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:51:30 +0000

The world’s longest railway, the Trans-Siberian Railway in Russia, is 5,777 miles (9,297 kilometers) long. It runs from Moscow to Vladivostok. If the auxiliary route to Nakhodka is included, the distance becomes 5,865 miles (9,436 kilometers). The Trans-Siberian Railway was opened in sections. The first train transporting goods reached Irkutsk on August 27, 1898.

The Baikal-Amur Northern Main Line, which began operating in 1938, shortens the distance from Moscow to Vladivostok by about 310 miles (500 kilometers). The journey takes approximately 7 days, 2 hours, and crosses 7 time zones. There are 9 tunnels, 139 large bridges or viaducts (bridge carrying a railroad over a valley), and 3,762 smaller bridges on the whole route. Nearly the entire line is electrified.

African Self-Sufficiency

longhaulrail — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:43:30 +0000

London-based businessman Saifee Durbar has a novel approach to making Africa self sufficient.

Durbar plans to span Africa by linking Sudan in the east with Cameroon in the west with a railroad that goes through the Central African Republic.

Minerals and other raw materials found in the Central African Republic will be used to construct the railroad.

Saif Durbar sees this project as a completion of the vision for African ascendancy that started with the Suez Canal.

Project updates can be found at:

http://longhaulrail.wordpress.com/

http://africanrail.wordpress.com/

http://transafricarail.wordpress.com/

Crossing Africa

longhaulrail — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:50:15 +0000

London-based businessman Saifee Durbar has a plan.

He plans to build a railway connecting the Sudan, on Africa’s east coast, with Cameroon, on the west coast.

This railway will go through the Central African Republic.

It will benefit all of Africa, linking east and west. It will allow nations of the interior, such as the Central African Republic, to have ready access to shipping. This is how they will be able to exploit their vast mineral wealth effectively.