• Transtu to acquire 48 railcars for metro and TGM lines
• €160 million EBRD-backed plan supports rail upgrades and expansion
• Government targets 36 billion dinars rail investment by 2040

Tunisian public transport operator Transtu is acquiring 48 new railcars to strengthen its rail services, according to local media reports citing company management. Thirty units are intended for the metro network and 18 for the Tunis-La Goulette-La Marsa line, known as the TGM. Both tenders are in the final stages, though no timeline has been provided.

The acquisition marks a new step in Transtu’s fleet renewal effort, as the operator faces operational challenges that have weighed on service quality in the capital and surrounding areas. The turnaround plan is backed by the state and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which has approved €160 million (about $187.6 million) in financing.

The funding covers three components: the rehabilitation of the Tunis-Kasserine line, a key corridor for freight and passenger traffic; the electrification and doubling of the Moknine-Mahdia line; and the procurement of new electric multiple unit trains.

The projects form part of a government strategy targeting 36 billion dinars (around $12.5 billion) in rail investment by 2040, as the government seeks to make the sector a driver of economic growth. Rail plays a significant role in phosphate exports, which account for about 4% of Tunisia’s GDP.

Henoc Dossa