Anglo -Egyptian 81 ] RAILWAYS annual expenditure upon upkeep of £ E. 450,000. Revenue from all sources reached between £E . 560,000 and £E . 600,000, and profits are steadily on the increase.

There are three lines in the Sudan : the Khartum Halfa Railway , from Khartum to Wadi Halfa , connected with the Egyptian system by means of a fleet of steamers on the Halfa -Shellal reach of the Nile ; the Atbara - Port Sudan Railway, from Atbara Junction to Suakin and Port Sudan on the Red Sea ; and the Khartum -Sennar - El Obeid Railway, connect ing Kordofan with Khartum , via Sennar and the Blue Nile.

( i )The Khartum - Halfa Railway, after crossing the Blue Nile at Khartum , follows the right bank of the Nile through Atbara Junction ( 191 miles ), where it crosses the Atbara river on a permanent steel-girder bridge, of seven 150 - ft. spans ( built in 1911) , to Berber ( 25 miles ) ; thence it runs to Abu Hamed (131 miles ). From Abu Hamed the line cuts across the desert to meet the river again at Wadi Halfa ( 232 miles ) . This section runs through desolate and barren stretches of sun-scorched desert. The journey from Khartum to Halfa occupies about twenty -four hours; restaurant and sleeping cars are provided The main line was completed to Khartum North (Halfaya ) in 1899. The construction of the big eight span iron bridge which carries the line over the Blue Nile to the Khartum Central Station was not finished until 1909. An important goods station, with extensive customs stores, & c ., has been built on the river bank at Khartum , close to the confluence of the two Niles and opposite Khartum North, the headquarters of the Steamers and Boats Department of the Government Railways. Its spacious quays and landing stages enable all the river -borne traffic from Omdurman and up and down river to be dealt with efficiently. The general offices and workshops of the Sudan Govern ment Railways are at Atbara Junction .

From AbuHamed a branch line , completed in 1905 ,