SNCFT announces school rail subscriptions amid locomotive shortages

The Société nationale des chemins de fer tunisiens (SNCFT) has announced the launch of school and university subscriptions for the 2026-2027 academic year, with sales beginning September 1, 2026. The service covers the Tunis suburbs and the Sahel region, including lines connecting Tunis to Erriadh, Bougatfa, and Gobaa, as well as the coastal axis serving Sousse Bab Jedid, Monastir, and Mahdia. To support household purchasing power, the company is freezing subscription rates at previous year levels and offering installment payment options. To prevent congestion at main stations, dedicated sales offices will be deployed in Sousse Bab Jedid, Monastir, Moknine, Bekalta, Teboulba, and Mahdia.

Separately, the railway operator is facing operational challenges due to a shortage of locomotives. Five train services were canceled over a two-day period in late August, affecting routes between Tunis and regions including Le Kef, Sfax, Métlaoui, and Gabès. The company stated that these cancellations will continue until normal traffic flow is restored, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding the aging state and insufficient number of available locomotives within the fleet.