Transport in Algeria

As the tenth-largest country in the world, and the largest in Africa and in the Mediterranean region, Algeria has a vast transportation system that includes a large transportation infrastructure.

Situation of Algerian highways network in May 2015.

Railways
Further information: Rail transport in Algeria
Schematic map of the main railway line (the Tell Line)

There are a total of 3,973 km (2,469 mi) of railways: 2,888 km (1,795 mi) is 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge, with 283 km (176 mi) of that being electrified and 215 km (134 mi) of that being double tracked. There are also a total of 1,085 km (674 mi) of 1,055 mm (3 ft 5 1⁄2 in) gauge track.

SNTF operates the railways, whilst a new, separate organisation, Anesrif, has been created to manage infrastructure investment.

The High Plateau line is a major new project to build an east-west line across the country, parallel to the Rocade Nord.[1]

2009
  • A 690-km line from Béchar to Oran is opened on 15 July.[2]
  • Planning starts on suburban electrification at 25 kV AC.

2006
  • A new 204-kilometre (127 mi) railway currently under construction from Tébessa to Aïn M'Lila. The 8 km (5.0 mi) Algiers bypass line between Djasr Kasentina and Oued Smar is also being upgraded.
  • 18 May 2006 SNTF is to spend $US5 billion (about R30bn) in the next five years on improvements.[3] It has awarded a 39-month-duration contract worth €248.3 million to a joint Algerian and Spanish consortium that will double the Annaba-Ramdane Djamal portion of the 626 km (389 mi) Algiers-Annaba line and upgrade the track for 160 km/h (37 mph) operation.
  • SNTF is to electrify 420 km (260 mi) of the route west of Annaba at 25 kV AC, including the branches from Ramdane Djamel to Skikda (19 km or 12 mi) and Beni Mansour to Bejaia (88 km or 55 mi), as well as the line from Khemis Miliana to Oran (303 km or 188 mi).
  • 18 May 2006 - By early 2009, it is hoped to open the first 16.3 km (10.1 mi) section of the new light rail line in Algeria's capital city, linking Carl du Ruisseau to Bordj El Kiffan.[4]
  • Under construction: there are 3 projects to build tramway networks in 3 major cities: Alger, Oran and Constantine (9 km or 5.6 mi, planned opening 2010).[5]
  • CAF is to supply 17 non-tilting diesel multiple-units based on the RENFE Series 598 tilting trains.[3]
Tramway of Setif

Tramways
Tramway of Oran

Currently the cities of Algiers, Oran, Constantine, Setif, Sidi bel Abbes and Ouargla have a tram line in operation. Tram projects have been launched in the east in Mostaganem since 2015.[6] The government, wanting to diversify the country's future in rail transport, has assigned the Algiers Subway Company to the projects.

Highways
New highway construction near Aïn Turk - part of the east-west Algerian Highway

There are over 96,000 kilometers of paved roads including 1394 kilometers of expressways and 29,000 kilometers of unpaved roads for a total road system of about 127,000 kilometers.[11]

Regional highways

Algeria has two routes in the Trans-African Highway network, including the Trans-Sahara Highway, soon to be complete as a paved road running from north to south through the country. The country has also embarked (as of 2006) in the construction of a new East-West highway.[12]

Motorways

Motorway network in Algeria is expanding increasingly, along with other kinds of infrastructure, though this is only true for the Northern region of the country, where most of its population lives. Due to extensive investment the infrastructure is pretty well developed.

Pipelines

There are 456 kilometers of crude oil pipeline, 298 kilometers of refined petroleum pipeline, and 2,948 kilometers of natural gas pipeline. There are also 4 gas exportation pipelines, two existing ones to Spain (Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline) and Italy (Trans-Mediterranean Pipeline) and 2 under construction, Medgaz between Oran and Almería, Spain and GALSI between Annaba and Sardinia, Italy. Both pipelines will be extended to France and Germany.

Ports and harbors

Mediterranean Sea

Merchant marine

Total: 110 (2017, CIA World Factbook) by type: bulk carrier 3, general cargo 13, oil tanker 9, other 85 (2017)

Airports
Houari Boumediene Airport (2019).
Further information: List of airports in Algeria

An extensive air service used an estimated 137 airports and airstrips in 2004. As of 2005, a total of 52 had paved runways, and there was one heliport. The main international airport, Houari Boumedienne Airport, is about 20 km (12 mi) from Algiers. Constantine, Annaba, Tlemcen, and Oran have smaller modern airports that can accommodate jet aircraft. Air Algérie, the national airline, provides international service. In 2003, a total of about 3.293 million passengers were carried on domestic and international flights.

See also

References
  1. "Railway Gazette: Planning a railway to the High Plateau". Retrieved 2011-03-24.
  2. Inscription sur elmoudjahid
  3. Murray Hughes. "Desert riches fuel network revival". Railway Gazette International. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
  4. "Railways Africa". RailwaysAfrica.
  5. "Metros". Railway Gazette International. 2006-07-01. Archived from the original on 2007-10-23. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
  6. ACCEUIL :: Entreprise Métro d'Alger
  7. "Oran tramway opens for business, with more Algerian LRT to come" (June 2013). Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, p. 212. LRTA Publishing (UK).
  8. Alioua, Houria (20 March 2018). "Le tramway de Ouargla mis en service" [Ouargla tramway put into service]. El Watan (in French). SPA El Watan Presse. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  9. (in French) "Tramway de Sidi Bel Abbès : Les tests finaux prévus aujourd'hui". El Watan. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  10. "First tram line inaugurated in the city of Sétif, Algeria". www.globalrailnews.com. Rail Media Company. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  11. "Consistance du partinoine routier". Ministère des travaux publics.
  12. China and Japan consortium to construct Algeria's East-West Highway Magharebia 2006-04-19
  13. La Rocade Autoroutière Des Hauts Plateaux Archived 2016-08-20 at the Wayback Machine

 This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook website https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/.

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