Algeria advances major Alger-Tamanrasset railway project

Algeria has reached a decisive milestone in the construction of the massive Alger-Tamanrasset railway project. An executive decree has declared two major sections in the Grand South of public utility, facilitating land expropriation procedures and clearing the way for upcoming construction.

The project covers two strategic stretches totaling 1,086 kilometers: 410 km between El Meniaâ and In Salah, and 676 km between In Salah and Tamanrasset. Once completed, the entire 2,000 km line is intended to connect the capital to the far south, linking the Sahara region to northern hubs of commerce, education, and healthcare.

Technical specifications include passenger train speeds of up to 220 km/h and freight speeds of 100 km/h. The infrastructure will require extensive engineering, including dozens of viaducts, tunnels, and hundreds of hydraulic structures. The project will also feature various stations and crossing points, utilizing ERTMS-ETCS level 1 signaling and GSM-R telecommunications. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has set the timeline for starting construction on key sections by September.