Paul Steane's Photography Pages

Tuesday 3rd October 2023 Starting earlier than originally planned, due to finding that there were trains through to Beni Ansar despite them not being in the PDF timetable, the first difficulty was getting onto the platforms at Nador Ville, as no-one in their right mind would catch a train for the few km to the end of the line - there being a reasonable bus service. The platform was barriered off, and whilst this would no doubt be removed when arriving passengers needed to exit the station, it was not obvious that they would be removed in time for me to catch the train. I asked the station staff (in French) and they found a manager who spoke to me in English and understood what I wanted to do - so I was shown to the lift down to the platform. Again, I spoke to the train staff before getting to Beni Ansar as I didn't want to get into trouble for taking photos so close to the port area and the international border with Melilla. Anyway, the line was 'ticked off'. Four hours in Taourirt were spent wandering around the town, sitting in the station building, having a coffee in the station cafe, and having an ice cream from the station shop. Finally getting the train to Oujda, this clearing my passenger track in Morocco. After checking into the hotel, which was close to the second station in Oujda, I had a wander up to the remains of the first station on the disused line towards Algeria.
Route: Nador Ville 08:13 (dep 33 late) (train 139, ONCF DL DH-371) - Beni Ansar Ville 08:33 (arr 22 late); 09:25 (train 503, ONCF DL DH-424) - Taourirt 11:08; 15:20 (train 103, ONCF DL DH-426) - Oujda 16:59. Overnight: Hotel Ibis, Oujda (3 nights)