• Algeria launches tenders for 495-km Laghouat–El-Meniaa railway
• Project includes stations, viaducts, tunnel, rolling stock procurement
• Aims to boost transport, economy, and expand national rail network

Algeria has issued two tenders for the construction of a 495-kilometer railway linking Laghouat, Ghardaïa and El-Meniaa. The project, overseen by the National Agency for Railway Investment (Anesrif), aims to improve passenger and freight transport between the north and center of the country while supporting economic development in the regions along the route.

The tenders cover not only the construction of the rail infrastructure but also the procurement of rolling stock and related works. The project is divided into two sections. The first covers the Laghouat-Ghardaïa segment, spanning 265 kilometers, which will include five stations, 21 viaducts, one tunnel and 55 drainage structures. The second covers the Ghardaïa-El-Meniaa segment, at 230 kilometers, with three stations, six viaducts and 35 additional structures.

When complete, the line will accommodate passenger trains running at up to 220 km/h, compared with 160 km/h for freight. The targets reflect the government’s push to modernize rail transport and establish it as a credible alternative to road transport.

The project is financed by several partners, including the African Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Algerian state. It is part of a broader investment program estimated at nearly $18 billion, aimed at expanding and modernizing the national rail network.

Beyond improving mobility, the project seeks to encourage a modal shift away from roads, reducing logistical costs, particularly for the agricultural and mining sectors. By 2030, Algeria aims to extend its rail network to 15,000 kilometers, up from 4,722 kilometers in 2023.

On Feb. 1, the country inaugurated the western mining railway connecting Béchar, Tindouf and Gara Djebilet. The line is a key artery intended to support the extraction of iron ore at the Gara Djebilet deposit and transport large volumes of ore to processing facilities and port infrastructure, as Algeria seeks to position itself as a regional metallurgical hub.

Henoc Dossa