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The Train to Manakara

by Bogdan Comanescu

Madagascar

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This train is the only passenger train left in Madagascar.It connects the highland of Finarantsoa area with the east coast, lowland.More than a passenger train, this train is the main goods transportation between those two regions.
This train is the only passenger train left in Madagascar.It connects the highland of Finarantsoa area with the east coast, lowland.More than a passenger train, this train is the main goods transportation between those two regions.
Fredie, the conductor. By sitting with Fredie in the locomotive, I found out that only theoretically the trip is eight hours, as planned. Practically, the trip takes 12 to 17 hours. This because of the long stops for the trades in the stations.
Fredie, the conductor. By sitting with Fredie in the locomotive, I found out that only theoretically the trip is eight hours, as planned. Practically, the trip takes 12 to 17 hours. This because of the long stops for the trades in the stations.
The beauty of the train is that it has his own rhythm, the route that consists of 17 stations over about 200Km. The stations are more or less markets, like small villages built around a trains station.
The beauty of the train is that it has his own rhythm, the route that consists of 17 stations over about 200Km. The stations are more or less markets, like small villages built around a trains station.
A nice thing is that except the fast food, almost no station trades the same goods, each has its own specific. Being a sequential mart, it is for sure that if you both fire wood in a station, you will not search for it in the next ones.
A nice thing is that except the fast food, almost no station trades the same goods, each has its own specific. Being a sequential mart, it is for sure that if you both fire wood in a station, you will not search for it in the next ones.
The local people know this is a long journey,and so, because of the long stops in the stations (between 30 min and one hour), the ones that are not looking to buy or sell anything, are making themselves busy without smart phones and tablets.
The local people know this is a long journey,and so, because of the long stops in the stations (between 30 min and one hour), the ones that are not looking to buy or sell anything, are making themselves busy without smart phones and tablets.

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