• The government plans to add 1,082 buses to the national fleet in 2026

• Deliveries include 461 buses in early 2026 and 621 additional units later

• The program is part of broader reforms covering road and rail transport

The Tunisian government plans to invest in a major expansion of the public transport fleet in 2026, with the addition of 1,082 buses nationwide. The program was announced during a restricted cabinet meeting held on January 12.

Under the plan, 461 new buses are due to be delivered in the first quarter of the year, in several batches starting in January. A further 621 buses will then be acquired by regional transport companies and the National Intercity Transport Company (SNTRI).

Authorities present the investment as a response to long-standing weaknesses in the public transport system, linked to decades of ineffective policies, including the failure to renew bus and metro fleets. According to Transport Minister Rachid Amri, these shortcomings have resulted in low investment levels, deteriorating infrastructure and equipment, and rising maintenance and operating costs.

The fleet expansion will be accompanied by additional structural reforms, including the introduction of a dedicated maintenance program, the digitalization of transport services, and improvements to passenger information systems.

Beyond road transport, the ongoing restructuring plan also covers rail services, with measures to expand both the train fleet and the rail network. As part of this effort, Line D of the Rapid Rail Network (RFR), which serves Tunis’s western suburbs up to Gobaa, entered service in January 2025. The line is expected to be complemented by Lines C and F, for which negotiations with lenders are under way, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Observers note that the reform process may also need to address the organization of private sector operators, which have become increasingly important in Tunisia’s transport services in recent years as the public offer has weakened.

Henoc Dossa