Posted on 30 August 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Tunisia is planning to invest $US5.5 billion over the next decade in the development of a high-speed rail link with Morocco, Algeria and Libya. Despite having a rail network covering more than 2,100km, operational efficiency is hampered by gauge differences and limited electrification. Less than 10% of the country’s freight is carried on rail, a [...] [...more]
Posted on 20 August 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
The Tunis transit authority, Transtu, has awarded Alstom a €58 million contract to supply 16 additional Citadis tramsets, as well as maintenance services for its entire existing fleet. The new vehicles will be identical to the 39 delivered between 2007 and 2009. In operation since October 2007 on the network’s line 1, the trams carry [...] [...more]
Posted on 25 July 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (SNCFT – the Tunisian National Railways) has ordered 20 diesel railcars from China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock (CSR). Starting in March 2011, Voith Turbo is to deliver 42 rail packs with T212bre turbo transmissions, SK/KE 485 final drives, roof-mounted cooling systems, cardan shafts and Schaku couplers for [...] [...more]
Posted on 07 June 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Representatives of railway companies from the five Maghreb countries – Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia – participated in a conference in Tunis at the end of May whose theme was “The railway as a vehicle for Maghreb integration”. The event was organised jointly by the Tunisian transport ministry with the Tunisian industry, trade and [...] [...more]
Posted on 06 April 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Tunisia aims to increase rail’s share of freight transport in the country from the current 9% to 20% by 2016. In this context, three agreements on maritime and railway transport, and strategic industrial products, were concluded on 26 March. The first framework agreement, covering the maritime transport of phosphoric acid and phosphate products, was signed [...] [...more]
Posted on 22 March 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Reuters reported on 12 March that Tunisia has won a $US50 million loan from Japan to finance a railway electrification scheme. The news agency said it was quoting a statement issued by the Tunisian government, which added: “The project aims at improving transport conditions between Tunis centre and its southern suburbs”. [...more]
Posted on 08 March 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Tunisair and Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (SNCFT – the Tunisian National Railways) have signed a joint agreement creating two “spin-off” companies. Minister of transport Abderrahim Zouari; minister of industry, energy and small and medium enterprises Afif Chelbi; Tunisair president and CEO Nabil Chettaoui, and Néjib Fitouri, SNCFT CEO Néjib Fitouri were present [...] [...more]
Posted on 05 February 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
From October 2010, new electric trains will gradually phase out diesel traction between the main railway station in Tunis’ Place Barcelone and Hammam El Chatt, south of the city. Sets with a capacity of 2,500 are to be introduced by Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (SNCFT – the Tunisian National Railways). They will [...] [...more]
Posted on 05 February 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
The 25-year railway management agreement between Tanzania and Rail India Technical and Economic Services (Rites) is be officially revoked in February, Permanent Secretary in the Tanzanian Ministry of Infrastructure Development Omari Chambo has told the parliamentary committee on public accounts in Dar-es-Salaam. “Coupled with the onset of the El Nino rains that have washed away [...] [...more]
Posted on 13 November 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
Tunisair and Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (SNCFT – the Tunisian National Railways) have signed a joint agreement creating two “spin-off” companies. Minister of transport Abderrahim Zouari; minister of industry, energy and small and medium enterprises Afif Chelbi; Tunisair president and CEO Nabil Chettaoui, and Néjib Fitouri, SNCFT CEO Néjib Fitouri were present [...] [...more]
Posted on 17 June 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
CSR Nanjing Puzhen was recently awarded a contract for the supply of 40 diesel multiple units to Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (SNCFT – the Tunisian National Railways). The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of China South Locomotive and Rolling Stock Corporation, which is publicly listed on the Shanghai and Hong Kong [...] [...more]
Posted on 09 April 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (SNCFT – the Tunisian National Railways) has ordered 40 two-car Pacemaker 160km/h diesel multiple-unit trains from the CSR Nanjing Puzhen Rolling Stock company, better known as China South, for delivery in 2011. The contract, worth $US100 million, was won in stiff competition with established Western manufacturers. To be [...] [...more]