National Company for Rail Transport
| Company type | Government-owned company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway transport |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Headquarters | Algiers , Algeria |
Area served | Algeria |
| Products | Rail transport services |
The National Rail Transportation Company (, , known as SNTF) serves as Algeria's government-owned railway operator. SNTF exclusively manages the nation's rail infrastructure, overseeing a network spanning , with currently operational lines. This system comprises of standard gauge tracks (of which are electrified) alongside of narrow gauge tracks (1055 mm) as recorded in 2008.
Early Development
The inception of Algeria's railways traces back to the French colonial era. On 8 April 1857, an official decree authorized the construction of of railway lines, initiating with a standard gauge route connecting Algiers and Blida. Construction commenced on 12 December 1859. The French private enterprise Compagnie des chemins de fer algériens began building on 11 July 1860, supported by military forces. Authorization was also granted for lines extending from Oran to Sig and from Constantine to Skikda, but only the Algiers-Blida segment was completed and inaugurated on 8 September 1862. Subsequently, five companies developed additional lines:
- La Compagnie Bône - Guelma (BG)
- La Compagnie de l'Est Algérien (EA)
- La Compagnie Paris - Lyon - Méditerranée (PLM)
- La Compagnie de l'Ouest Algérien (OA)
- La Compagnie Franco - Algérienne (FA)
Between 1857 and 1878, these firms constructed over , surpassing original targets and including vital corridors such as Annaba-Berrahal, Constantine-Skikda, Algiers-Oran, and Mohammadia-Mécheria.
Nationalization Era
Following 1879, French authorities classified railways into "local" or "general interest" categories, with only the latter qualifying for government funding. A decree dated 18 July 1879 required an additional of track construction. From 1879 through 1906, an extra was developed, expanding essential routes toward the Tunisian and Moroccan borders as well as important industrial zones.
By 1946, Algeria’s operational rail network extended to , including mining lines—significantly exceeding the current size. Due to financial difficulties, the French government acquired several major private railway companies between 1900 and 1920.
On 27 September 1912, most lines transferred to the state-owned Compagnie des Chemins de Fer Algériens de l'Etat (CFAE), except those held by Compagnie Paris - Lyon - Méditerranée (PLM). By 1921, operations were divided geographically: PLM managed western Algerian routes while CFAE controlled the remainder.
When France created SNCF on 30 May 1938, Algeria's network became a regional division within it. The Office des Chemins de fer Algériens (Office CFA) was formed in 1939 to oversee Algerian rail management.
On 30 June 1959, a partnership between the French government and OCFA resulted in the Société des Chemins de Fer Français en Algérie, which operated from January 1960 until Algeria’s independence led to its replacement by the national company Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Algériens (SNCFA) on 16 June 1963.
After Independence
On 30 March 1976, SNCFA was divided into three distinct organizations:
- SNTF – tasked with operations and maintenance;
- SNERIF – responsible for network renewal and expansion;
- SIF – dedicated to engineering and infrastructure upgrades.
This restructuring sought to improve Algeria's rail services but ultimately failed to deliver desired results, prompting the reintegration of SNERIF and SIF back into SNTF. In 1980, a formal agreement between the state and SNTF (decree N° 88-128 dated 28 June 1988) was enacted to regulate employee compensation and infrastructure upkeep. By December 1990, SNTF had been designated an Établissement Public à caractère Industriel et Commercial (EPIC).
Recent developments in infrastructure investment
Following 1980, Algeria's railway system underwent substantial enhancements, including the establishment of the Jijel–Ramdane-Djamel route spanning 140 km, a railway servicing the Béni Saf region to support its cement factory covering 23 km, as well as new lines in Saïda (23 km) and Aïn Touta (15 km).
Around 1,400 km of rails were renewed, encompassing ballast and sleepers, while the Rocade Nord in Algiers experienced track doubling along roughly 200 km. Numerous stations across the country were either upgraded or reconstructed, with significant focus on areas near Algiers and Annaba.
To oversee infrastructure investments, a new organization named Anesrif was established, allowing SNTF to concentrate on operational responsibilities. Anesrif has commissioned projects aimed at constructing new routes and enhancing existing ones, such as the single-track section connecting Relizane to Tiaret and Tissemsilt, which forms part of the High Plateau railway.
Rolling stock
By 2017, the SNTF fleet comprised:
- 258 locomotives
- 10,129 freight wagons
- 380 passenger coaches
- 17 Alstom Coradia trainsets manufactured by De Dietrich Ferroviaire in France
- 17 CAF TDMD S/599 units
- 64 Stadler FLIRT multiple units
Rail connections with neighboring countries
Standard gauge railways link Algeria with both Morocco and Tunisia. The Algerian-Tunisian rail service recommenced operations in August 2024 after a prolonged suspension, whereas the land border railway connection with Morocco has remained closed since 1994.
Memberships
SNTF holds membership in prominent regional and global railway organizations:
- African Union of Railways
- Arab Union of Railways
- Comité du Transport Ferroviaire Maghrebin (CTFM), based in Algiers
- International Union of Railways (UIC)
See also
External links
- EngRailHistory – Railways of Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria (Internet Archive)