History of rail transport in Algeria

The history of rail transport in Algeria began in 1857 during the French colonization with the implementation of an initial plan for the creation of a 1,357 kilometres (843 mi) railway network.

This plan, formalized by a decree from Emperor Napoleon III, defined the initial framework of the Algerian railway network, which continued to evolve throughout the second half of the 19th century, both in terms of its scale and structure.

These early railway lines primarily served the transportation of agricultural products and raw materials from Algeria to mainland France, as well as the movement of manufactured goods from coastal cities to the interior regions of the colony.

In 1962, the newly established Algerian state initially focused on managing the existing railway network, ensuring efficient operation and maintenance.

Significant developments included the construction of a railway ring road in the High Plateaus and the ongoing completion of feeder lines connecting major cities in the northern Sahara region.

This expansion aims to facilitate the transportation of various goods, such as minerals and petrochemical products, by rail between Sahelian countries, Algerian ports, Europe, and other global destinations.

According to Pereire:[2] With the leveling work carried out by the troops, free expropriation, and obtaining rails at half price from England, it would be sufficient for this 150-league line to incur a total expenditure of 20 to 25 million.

This capability ensures that there will no longer be a need to worry about serious attacks.In 1844 engineer Édouard de Redon put forward a proposal to construct a railway from Algiers to Blida, following the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.

[3] At the same time, Frédéric and Eugène Lacroix presented their project for a railway line connecting Philippeville (Skikda) to Constantine, including a port at Stora.

[5] While the need for a railway network to promote colonization in Algeria was recognized during the assessment of these projects, the preliminary studies were deemed inadequate as they were either limited to specific regions or driven by private interests focusing on transporting goods from productive areas or mines seeking concessions.

To address these concerns and fully facilitate colonization, the governor of Algeria, Jacques Louis Randon, assigned General François de Chabaud-Latour to conduct thorough studies and develop a comprehensive plan for the railway network.

This initial railway line spanned 11 km and connected the Karezas iron mine to the Seybouse River port, situated on the outskirts of Annaba.

[8] It was not until the mid-1850s that General François de Chabaud-Latour, the senior commander of the engineering corps in Algeria, was assigned by Governor Jacques Louis Randon to assess the various suggestions and provide a comprehensive report.

However, we should not encourage large-scale migration of farmers from the Motherland to Algeria until these infrastructure projects are completed.It was only in 1857 that Marshal Vaillant, the Minister of War at the time, presented Emperor Napoleon III with a comprehensive plan for the construction of Algerian railways.

[6] The main axes of this plan are as follows:[9] Sire, You have deemed it necessary to provide Algeria with railways, to satisfy the existing agricultural interests and accelerate their progressive development.

A railway network encompassing the three provinces will bring life and wealth through the convenient and swift transportation of agricultural and industrial products, as well as facilitate the movement of a growing population of colonists.

Some underwent changes in their routes, while others were never built : The governor's decree on 2 June 1863 allowed for the extension of the Karesas Mines railway line to the Seybouse port in Bône (now Annaba), both towards the north and west, reaching the area of Aïn Mokra (Berrahal).

The decree of 29 April 1874 approves the agreements reached between the Governor-General of Algeria and the Compagnie franco-algérienne (FA) for the concession of a railway line from Arzew to Saïda, with an extension of 70 km in the direction of Geryville (now El Bayadh).

[15] Only a few small local interest lines are declared of public utility during this period: The French state disengages from direct governance of the construction and financing of the railway network in Algeria and aims to transfer this responsibility to its colony.

But first, some order must be brought to the operational network before addressing its development, including improving and unifying the tariff structure for passenger services and freight transport.

– The Governor-General, representing Algeria, leases to the PLM Company from 1 January 1922, the following lines: from Algiers to Oran, from La Sénia to Aïn-Témouchent, from Sainte-Barbe-du-Tlélat to Sidi-Bel-Abbès and Ras-el-Mâ, from Tabia to Tlemcen and the border of Morocco, and from Blida to Djelfa.

However, the operation of steam locomotives on a single track with a mountainous profile, including steep grades in the Souk Ahras region, became increasingly challenging and no longer allowed efficient transportation.

The Algerian State Railways Company acquired around thirty locomotives of the CC 6-AE type (similar to PLM 1CC1 3700) built by Constructions électriques de France (CEF) in association with Alsthom.

[15][5][5] The creation of the Société nationale des chemins de fer français (SNCF) in 1938 notably led to the disappearance of the Paris-Lyon-Mediterranean Railway Company (PLM) and its Algerian subsidiary, the PLMA.

However, it was ultimately decided to establish a separate entity from the SNCF: the Office des chemins de fer algériens (CFA), which officially began operating the railway network in Algeria on 1 January 1939.

[23] Over the two decades preceding the independence of Algeria, the Algerian railway network did not undergo major changes except for some transformations of existing lines.

On 1 January 1960 the Société nationale des chemins de fer français en Algérie (SNCFA) was created, with the French state and the metropolitan SNCF as its two shareholders.

On January 16, 1963, the French National Railway Company in Algeria, created in 1959, becomes the Société nationale des chemins de fer algériens (retaining the same acronym SNCFA).

[5][26] In 198, the financial crisis led to the dissolution of SNERIF and SIF, with their prerogatives taken over by SNTF, which changed its status in 1990 to become a Public Establishment with Industrial and Commercial Character (EPIC).

[28] In the late 2000s and early 2010s, the Algiers suburban lines were electrified, and nearly 340 km (210 mi) of new lines were commissioned: Concurrently with the modernization and expansion of its network, SNTF began renewing its passenger rolling stock by acquiring diesel, electric, or diesel-electric automotor trains to replace trains composed of old passenger cars pulled by diesel locomotives.