Trans-Maghreb railway corridor study completed by African Development Bank

The African Development Bank has completed a feasibility study for a 2,350 km trans-Maghreb railway corridor connecting Casablanca, Algiers, and Tunis. The project aims to reduce travel time between the two ends of the corridor from 48 hours to 25 hours.

The study focuses on rehabilitating existing infrastructure and building missing links rather than constructing an entirely new line. For the Algerian-Tunisian segment, the preferred technical option involves a new 130 km line connecting Annaba to Jendouba via El Tarf, utilizing existing rails between Jendouba and Béja.

While the technical report is complete, it does not constitute a funding commitment or a launch order for construction. The total cost is estimated at approximately $4 billion according to the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA). Implementation remains subject to significant political and institutional hurdles, including the need for validation by the Arab Maghreb Union and the ongoing closure of the Morocco-Algeria border.