Trans-Maghreb Railway Corridor: AfDB Releases Feasibility Study, Targets 25-Hour Casablanca–Tunis Link
On June 26, 2026, the African Development Bank (AfDB) published the final report of its feasibility study for the Trans-Maghreb Railway Corridor—a 2,350-kilometer rail axis designed to connect Casablanca, Algiers, and Tunis. The long-term objective is clear: slash travel time between the corridor’s endpoints from 48 to just 25 hours. Funded at $1.7 million, this technical document does not commit any construction financing or trigger groundbreaking. Rather, it serves as a critical preparatory milestone, not an implementation agreement.
A New Route for the Algeria–Tunisia Segment
The study outlines three technical options for the Algeria–Tunisia stretch, specifically the Annaba-to-Jedeida segment. The selected proposal features a new ~130-kilometer line connecting Annaba to Jendouba via El Tarf, before linking to Jedeida using existing tracks between Jendouba and Béja. This decision builds on a tangible recent achievement: the Tunis–Annaba rail link, which resumed operations in August 2024 after decades of suspension, providing a functional backbone for the broader corridor.
Billions Still Needed to Fund the Project
The total project cost, previously estimated at $3.8 billion, now approaches $4 billion according to the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA). During a recent financing roundtable in Tunis, over 80 representatives from banks, investors, and international donors convened to discuss funding structures—yet no concrete financial commitments emerged. The tripartite institutional framework, already submitted to the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), remains pending official validation. Meanwhile, the Morocco–Algeria border, closed since 1994, continues to be the project’s most significant political unknown.
For Tunisian logistics and construction firms, the approved Annaba–Jendouba scenario outlines a tangible pipeline of opportunities to monitor: infrastructure tenders, railway subcontracting, and growth prospects for SMEs in northwest Tunisia. These commercial avenues will materialize as soon as financing aligns with the study’s technical recommendations.
Key Takeaways for Stakeholders
- 📅 Milestone: AfDB feasibility study finalized (June 2026)
- 🛤️ Route: 2,350 km Casablanca–Algiers–Tunis corridor
- ⏱️ Target: Reduce end-to-end travel time from 48h to 25h
- 💰 Funding Gap: ~$4B required; no binding commitments yet
- 🏗️ Next Steps: Institutional validation (AMU) + political resolution on Morocco–Algeria border
- 📈 Market Opportunity: Infrastructure tenders & railway subcontracting poised for Tunisian logistics/BTP firms once financing is secured
