Transport in Algeria

As the tenth-largest country in the world, and the largest in Africa and in the Mediterranean region. Algeria has a vast transportation system which include many transportation infrastructures.

Railways

Further information: Rail transport in Algeria

Schematic map of the main railway line (the Tell Line)

There are a total of 3,973 km (2,469 mi) of railways: 2,888 km (1,795 mi) is 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in) standard gauge, with 283 km (176 mi) of that being electrified and 215 km (134 mi) of that being double tracked. There are also a total of 1,085 km (674 mi) of 1,055 mm (3 ft 5 ¹⁄₂ in) gauge track.

SNTF operates the railways, whilst a new, separate organisation, Anesrif, has been created to manage infrastructure investment.

The High Plateau line is a major new project to build an east-west line across the country, parallel to the Rocade Nord.

Timeline

2009

• A 690-km line from Béchar to Oran is opened on 15 July.
• Planning starts on suburban electrification at 25 kV AC.

2006

• A new 204 km railway currently under construction from Tébessa to Aïn M'Lila. The 8 km Algiers bypass line between Gué de Constantine and Oued Smar is also being upgraded.

• 18 May 2006 SNTF is to spend $US5 billion (about R30bn) in the next five years on improvements. It has awarded a 39-month-duration contract worth €248.3 million to a joint Algerian and Spanish consortium which will double the Annaba-Ramdane Djamal portion of the 626 km Algiers-Annaba line and upgrade the track for 160 km/h operation.

• SNTF is to electrify 420 km of the route west of Annaba at 25 kV AC, including the branches from Ramdane Djamel to Skikda (19 km) and Beni Mansour to Bejaia (88 km), as well as the line from Khemis Miliana to Oran (303 km).

• 18 May 2006 - By early 2009, it is hoped to open the first 16.3 km section of the new light rail line in Algeria’s capital city, linking Carl du Ruisseau to Bordj El Kiffan.

• Under construction: there are 3 projects to build tramway networks in 3 major cities: Alger, Oran and Constantine (9 km, planned opening 2010).

• CAF is to supply 17 non-tilting diesel multiple-units based on the RENFE Series 598 tilting trains.

Tramways

Currently, Algiers, Oran and Constantine are the only cities in the country with a tram line in operation. Tram projects have been launched in both Setif,and Batna in the east, Mostaganem and Sidi Bel-Abbes in the west, and Ouargla in the South. The government, wanting to diversify the country's future in rail transport, has assigned the Algeirs Subway Company to the projects.

Highways

New highway construction near Aïn Turk - part of the east-west Algerian Highway

There are 71,656 kilometers of paved roads including 1394 kilometers of expressways and 32,344 kilometers of unpaved roads for a total road system of 104,000 kilometers.

Regional highways

Algeria has two routes in the Trans-African Highway network, including the Trans-Sahara Highway, soon to be complete as a paved road running from north to south through the country. The country has also embarked (as of 2006) in the construction of a new East-West highway.

Motorways

Motorway network in Algeria is expanding increasingly, along with other kinds of infrastructure, though this is only true for the Northern region of the country, where most of its population lives. And this infrastructure is pretty well developed for North African standards.

• East-West Highway. This is the most important road infrastructure in the country, because it expands from Ain El Assel, on the border with Tunisia to Zouj Beghal, on the border with Morocco. Along its way, it also links the cities of Constantine, Sétif, Alger, Blida, Chlef, Sidi Bel Abbes and Tlemcen. It has a length of 1155 km.
• National Highway 4. It is a motorway on its extent from Oran to Zaghloul. Length: 35 km.
• National Highway 5. It is a motorway on its extent from Dar El Beïda to Ammal. Length: 82 km.
• National Highway 11. It is a motorway running from Alger to Cherchell. Length: 65 km.
• National Highway 12. It is a motorway running from Si Mustapha to Tizi Ouzou. Length: 57 km.

Pipelines

There are 456 kilometers of crude oil pipeline, 298 kilometers of refined petroleum pipeline, and 2,948 kilometers of natural gas pipeline. There are also 4 gas exportation pipelines, two existing ones to Spain (Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline) and Italy (Trans-Mediterranean Pipeline) and 2 under construction, Medgaz between Oran and Almería, Spain and GALSI between Annaba and Sardinia, Italy. Both pipelines will be extended to France and Germany.

Ports and harbors

Mediterranean Sea

• Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Béni Saf, Dellys, Djendjen, Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda, and Ténès

Merchant marine

Statistics for the shipping industry of Algeria
Total: 41 ships (1,000 gross register tons (GRT) or over)
Totalling: 744,406 GRT/766,764 metric tons deadweight (DWT)
Cargo ships
Bulk ships	7
Cargo ship	10
Roll-on / roll-off ships	3
Tankers
Liquefied gas tanker ships	9
Chemical tanker ships	2
Specialized tanker ships	1
Petroleum tanker ships	5
Passenger ships
Combined passenger/cargo	4
Foreign ownership and documentation Note: 13 vessels owned by the United Kingdom. 2006 estimates.
Source: This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain.

Airports

Further information: List of airports in Algeria

An extensive air service used an estimated 137 airports and airstrips in 2004. As of 2005, a total of 52 had paved runways, and there was one heliport. The main international airport, Houari Boumedienne Airport, is about 20 km (12 mi) from Algiers. Constantine, Annaba, Tilimsen, and Oran have smaller modern airports that can accommodate jet aircraft. Air Algérie, the national airline, provides international service. In 2003, a total of about 3.293 million passengers were carried on domestic and international flights.

See also

• Algeria

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the CIA World Factbook.