Algeria Unveils Ambitious Railway Project Across the Sahara
A 495-Kilometer Rail Line with a $2.6 Billion Price Tag
The Algerian government has announced a massive railway project, spanning 495 kilometers across the Sahara Desert, with a staggering budget of $2.6 billion. This ambitious undertaking aims to establish the train as a key pillar of the country's development, a goal that neighboring Algeria has not been shy about pursuing.
Two international tenders have been published by Anesrif, the National Agency for Railway Investments, for the construction of a 495-kilometer line between Laghouat and El-Meniaa, via Ghardaïa. This rail line will delve deep into the heart of the Algerian Sahara. The news was first reported by the International Railway Journal on March 30 and has not gone unnoticed.
The project is divided into two sections:
- The first section, Laghouat-Ghardaïa, will cover 265 kilometers, featuring five stations, 21 viaducts, one tunnel, and 55 hydraulic structures, with a budget of $1.4 billion.
- The second section, Ghardaïa-El-Meniaa, will span 230 kilometers, with three stations, six viaducts, and 35 structures, at a cost of $1.2 billion. The total budget for the project is $2.6 billion, an unprecedented amount for a railway project in the southern region of the country.
What's also striking is the planned speed for the trains. Passenger trains will be able to reach speeds of 220 km/h, while freight trains will have a top speed of 160 km/h. This is no longer a modest regional transportation system; it's a modern, high-speed infrastructure project comparable to those found in Europe or Asia.
Behind these numbers lies a deeper logic. Algeria aims to increase its rail network to 15,000 kilometers by 2030, up from the current 5,000 kilometers. This ambitious goal requires continuous funding, solid partnerships, and a proven ability to execute the project over time.
