Algeria frees up transit spending

 

After seven years of financial restraint, increased revenue from oil and gas exports has enabled the Algerian government to free up budgets for transit projects that have been on hold. Already this year the country’s newest tramway, in Mostaganem, was opened on 18 February. Now another new tramway will be built in the eastern coastal city of Bejaia (population 178 000).  

 

The 9.7km line 1 will run from Sarazine Gate to Ighilouzoug, serving the bus station and is designed to carry up to 8000 passengers/hour. It is not yet clear whether the 21.8km tramway in Annaba is proceeding; construction started here in 2016 but was suspended during the financial crisis. 72 Alstom Citadis were ordered from the local factory (CITAL), opened in 2015. 

In the capital city, Alger, the operating contract held by RATP Dev subsidiary RATP El Djazair has ended and been replaced by local management, while government-level negotiations are in progress about the future of the French company’s interest in tramway systems in Constantine, Oran, Ouragla, Sétif and Sidi Bel Abbes. 

 

Work has resumed on the metro extensions in Alger, 9.5km east to Hourari Boumedienne Airport and 6km west to Baraki. Originally planned for 2019, these should now open in 2026. A 4.6km extension of the capital city’s tramway from Les Fusillés to Bir Morad Rais will also now go ahead, serving a new bus station at the latter terminus. The ALD 27bn should also open in 2026. Studies are taking place for two further tramway extensions.