There is a light railway at Khartoum which it is intended to run in conjunction with a tramway at Omdurman.
[For practical details and hints regarding Communications in the Sudan, see “Notes for Travellers and Sportsmen in the Sudan”[135] (price PT.5), “Sudan Almanac”[135] (price PT.5), and “Notes on Outfit for the Sudan” (price PT.2), all obtainable from the chief booksellers in Cairo or the Agent-General, Sudan Government, War Office, Cairo.
These are recommended as being indispensable for intending travellers.]
Section 1.—Railways.
Historical.To Said Pasha (1860) is due the first idea of connecting the Sudan by railway with Lower Egypt. Mougel Bey reported on the subject, but, owing to the expense involved, the project was abandoned.
The first attempt at actually laying a railway in the Sudan dates from the time of the Khedive Ismail Pasha.
After a preliminary study in 1865-66, by Messrs. Walker and Bray, the Khedive sent up, in 1871, Mr. J. Fowler, C.E., to settle on the best routes for putting the Sudan into railway communication with civilisation. After some time spent in preliminary surveys, Mr. Fowler decided on a line which, starting from Halfa, would run up the eastern Nile bank, cross the river about Amara, and roughly follow the left bank to Ambugol. From here it would strike across the Bayuda desert, viâ Jakdul, to Metemma, cross the river again here, and continue along the right bank to Khartoum North.
From Debba a line was to be laid direct to El Fasher, capital of Darfur.
In the Eastern Sudan, meanwhile, a line was to be laid from Suakin, viâ Sinkat, to cross the Atbara and strike the Nile opposite to Khartoum.
These routes were accurately surveyed, and the railway from Halfa was actually begun and carried along the right bank to about Sarras. It was then abandoned, partly for financial reasons and partly at the desire of General Gordon, who considered that the country was not yet ripe for works involving such a considerable outlay.