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 that includes a large and diverse transportation infrastructure.

Railways

There are a total of of railways: with of that being electrified and of that being double tracked.
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

Metro

The Algiers Metro is a rapid transit system that first opened in 2011, making Algiers the first city in the Maghreb to possess this type of infrastructure. The system is mostly underground and extends over, serving 19 stations, and has an annual ridership of over 40 million passengers in 2018.
Several expansion projects are underway to ensure more extensive coverage of the capital city, with the network projected to reach a length of and serve 58 stations in the future.

Tramways

Algeria possesses one of the highest number of tram systems among developing countries, and by far the highest number in Africa, with 7 operating systems across different major cities. Currently the cities of Algiers, Oran, Constantine, Sétif, Sidi bel Abbes, Mostaganem and Ouargla have a tram line in operation. The government, wanting to diversify the country's future in rail transport, has assigned the Entreprise Métro d'Alger to the projects.

Highways

Due to extensive investment the motorway network in Algeria is expanding, along with other kinds of infrastructure. The country plans to link all of its major ports and cities with its highway network, as well as linking the country to all of its neighbors, with the aim of boosting economic activity and trade.
Currently Algeria has over of paved roads including of expressways, as well as of unpaved roads, for a total road system of about.

Regional highways

Algeria has two major roads in the Trans-African Highway network, including the Trans-Sahara Highway, which traverses the country from north to south, and eventually continues into Niger and Nigeria, linking Algiers to Lagos, Nigeria. The country has also constructed the East–west highway, which crosses the entirety of the country's north along the east–west axis, and runs from its border with Tunisia to that with Morocco, connecting most major Algerian cities in the process.

Motorways

Cable transport

Due to its mountainous geography, Algeria has taken a particular interest in cable-based transportation, namely gondola lifts and aerial tramways, which serve as both an ecological and touristic means of transport. Currently there are eight such systems in operation across the country, in Algiers, Oran, Tlemcen, Tizi Ouzou, Chréa, Constantine, Annaba and Skikda.
Over the coming years, Algeria will launch a program of new projects for the modernization and maintenance of all the country's cable cars. These works aim to reinforce the country's public cable transport.

Pipelines

As of 2013 Algeria had an extensive network of pipelines, with 7,036 kilometers of oil pipelines, 16,415 kilometers of natural gas pipelines, 3,447 kilometers of liquid petroleum gas pipelines, 2,600 kilometers of condensate pipelines and 144 kilometers of refined products pipelines.
The country has 3 export pipelines, two running to Spain, and one running to Italy, with an additional pipeline planned between Annaba and Sardinia. The pipeline networks will be extended to France and Germany.

Ports and harbors

Mediterranean Sea

Merchant marine

Total: 110
by type: bulk carrier 3, general cargo 13, oil tanker 9, other 85