Algeria’s Grand Railway Ambition: From Algiers to Tamanrasset, a Nation on the Move

Algeria’s Grand Railway Ambition: From Algiers to Tamanrasset, a Nation on the Move

✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria |  Algeria has once again signaled its determination to bind the north of the country to its vast and resource-rich south, as the colossal Algiers–Tamanrasset railway project crosses another decisive threshold. A new executive decree, published in the Official Journal, has declared of public utility the construction of two critical sections of the future line: the 265 km Laghouat–Ghardaïa stretch and the 230 km Ghardaïa–El Meniaâ segment.

 

The decree, signed by Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui, underlines the project’s “strategic and national importance,” formally launching the process of land expropriation across Laghouat, Ghardaïa, and El Meniaâ. In total, more than 3,000 hectares will be requisitioned, an early indication of the scale of a project that aims to redefine Algeria’s geographical and economic landscape.

The technical ambitions are equally impressive: viaducts, tunnels, multiple railway works, high-speed passenger lines (220 km/h), and freight capacity (100 km/h), all supported by state-of-the-art ERTMS-ETCS signaling and GSM-R telecommunications. The line is envisioned not as a mere transport link, but as a backbone of Algeria’s integration strategy with sub-Saharan Africa. Once completed, the 2,406 km artery will stretch all the way to In Guezzam, on the Nigerien border—placing Algeria at the heart of trans-African connectivity.

This is no small endeavor. The president himself, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, has made the railway a top national priority, explicitly linking it to Algeria’s broader strategy of regional influence and economic diversification. By unlocking access to the deep south, the project is expected to stimulate trade, accelerate development, and strengthen Algeria’s logistical dominance in the Maghreb and beyond.

But the challenge is immense. Expropriation, technical obstacles, and the coordination of vast logistical operations threaten to slow progress. The government, however, appears intent on avoiding the pitfalls of delay. Local authorities have been instructed to clear rights of way, relocate utilities, and ensure that the material supply chain runs seamlessly.

Already, portions of the network are operational. In 2023, a 250 km section between Boughezoul and Laghouat was inaugurated, demonstrating speeds of up to 220 km/h. Additional works are underway or under review, including the Boughezoul–Ksar El-Boukhari link (42 km), a key junction to feed the southern corridor. Meanwhile, topographic studies for the 676 km In Salah–Tamanrasset stretch have been finalized, paving the way for the next great leap.

If delivered by the president’s deadline of 2028, the Algiers–Tamanrasset railway will not only be Algeria’s most ambitious infrastructure project in modern history—it will be a bold statement of intent. It will bind together disparate regions, connect Algeria to Africa’s economic arteries, and turn what was once a frontier into a gateway.

 

 

 

 

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