Algeria Allocates 2,400 Billion Dinars to Modernize National Railway Network

Algeria Allocates 2,400 Billion Dinars to Modernize National Railway Network

✍️ 𝓑𝔂: 𝓓𝓻. 𝓗𝓪𝓷𝓪 𝓢𝓪𝓪𝓭𝓪

𝓐𝓵𝓰𝓲𝓮𝓻𝓼 – 𝓙𝓪𝓷𝓾𝓪𝓻𝔂 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 – Algeria has earmarked an unprecedented financial envelope of approximately 2,400 billion dinars to advance the modernization and expansion of its national railway infrastructure. The ambitious initiative, unveiled by Nabil Boubaya, Central Director at the National Agency for Railway Investment Studies and Oversight, seeks to transform the country’s rail network into a state-of-the-art backbone for national and regional transport.

Speaking on the “Guest of the Morning” program on Radio Algeria 1, Boubaya highlighted that the ongoing National Railway Program encompasses major projects supervised by the Ministry of Public Works, covering a current network of 5,738 kilometers across multiple wilayas, with further extension anticipated upon the completion of the Western Mining Line by the end of 2025.

According to Boubaya, the past six years have witnessed a “qualitative leap” in railway development, with the network expanding by over 1,700 kilometers from a base of less than 4,000 kilometers. This expansion has translated into tangible improvements in service efficiency, including the introduction of half-hourly train intervals in Algiers, signaling a marked enhancement in passenger transport quality.

The official underscored the strategic economic and social significance of rail transport, emphasizing its role in reducing logistics costs, alleviating road congestion, and facilitating the rapid movement of large volumes of goods. Moreover, rail services are increasingly relied upon in emergency situations to ensure the secure delivery of essential supplies.

Looking ahead, Boubaya noted that Algerian authorities envision connecting the domestic railway network to neighboring Maghreb and African countries, leveraging Algeria’s strategic position as a gateway to the African continent, thereby fostering regional trade and transport integration.

The program includes the advanced construction of the Northern Axis, linking the east and west of the country over 1,822 kilometers, as well as the High Plateaus Axis, extending 1,046 kilometers, with completion expected by 2026. Additional projects under the program comprise the Eastern Mining Line for phosphate transport and the East and Central Axes, which will connect ports and industrial hubs to southern regions, including Tamanrasset.

Boubaya stressed that these transformative projects reflect Algeria’s strategic vision to establish a modern railway network as a “fundamental pillar” of national and regional development, consolidating the country’s position as a key logistical hub within the region.