The ORIENTAL DESERT EXPRESS in the east of Morocco from Oujda to Bouarfa (305 kilometers/189 miles) circulate about 2 times a year, but it is intended to run about 10 trains in 2023, perhaps. The 6 car train with diesel locomotives DH # 421 and # 430 of the ONCF stopped on the open line some kilometers before Ain Beni Mathar because sand on the track. Workers traveling along especially for this purpose with shovels to clear the section of just under a hundred meters. The passengers of the train are also allowed to help and this is one of the many highlights of the journey of about 300 kilometers during about 12 hours. Passengers and staff are making "selfies". The line sees nor regular freight nor passenger service since decades (south of Guenfouda), but was not shut down for strategic reasons (proximity to the Algerian border). 30 of the DH 400 locomotives were bought from the NRE (Vernon/USA), but were built by TZV Gredelj in Zagreb/Croatia from 2012 to 2014, with remanufactured EMD prime movers.
