{{short description|Algeria's national railway operator}} {{Multiple issues|{{more citations needed|date=April 2012}}{{Expand French|date=October 2024|topic=transp}}}} {{Infobox company | name = National Rail Transportation Company | native_name = <span lang="ar">الشركة الوطنية للنّقل بالسّكك الحديدية</span> | logo = SNTF (logo).svg | logo_size = 200px | type = [[State-owned]] | genre = | foundation = 31 March 1976 | founder = | location_city = [[Image:Flag of Algeria.svg|25px]] [[Algiers]] | location_country = [[Algeria]] | location = | locations = | area_served = [[Algeria]], [[Tunisia]], [[Morocco]] | key_people = | industry = [[Rail transport]] | products = [[Rail transport]], [[Cargo]], [[transport]], [[Service sector|Service]], more... | services = | revenue = 4.5 billion DZD | operating_income = | net_income = | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = 12,933 {{when|date=October 2022}} | parent = | divisions = | subsid = STPE<br />STIM <br />Rail Express<br /> RailLINK <br /> STG <br /> RailPUB<br /> RailLOgistic<br /> Rail Télecom<br /> Safei<br />Restaurail<br />Infrarail<br />Rail Electr <br />Estel Rail | homepage = {{URL|sntf.dz}} | footnotes = | intl = }} {{Infobox rail network |name = National Rail Transportation Company<br/>Société Nationale des Transports Ferroviaires<br/><span lang="ar">الشركة الوطنية للنّقل بالسّكك الحديدية</span> |color = blue |logo = [[File:SNTF (logo).svg|200px]]<br> ''SNTF'', votre partenaire idéal ([[French language|French]]: ''SNTF'', your ideal partner) |image = Gare de l'Agha - 2025-05-05 - 0021.jpg |caption = SNTF trains at Agha Station in 2025 |infrastructure = |majoroperators = |ridership = |passkm = |freight = |length = |doublelength = |ellength = |freightlength = |hslength = |ogauge = |ogaugelength = |gauge = |hsgauge = |gauge1 = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}} |gauge1length = {{convert|4200|km|abbr=on}} |gauge2 = {{Track gauge|1055mm|lk=on}} |gauge2length = {{convert|1085|km|abbr=on}} |gauge3 = |gauge3length = |gauge4 = |gauge4length = |el = [[Voltage]] ({{clarify|date=June 2018}}) [[overhead line|Overhead]] |el1 = {{convert|580|km|abbr=on}} |el1length = |el2 = |el2length = |el3 = |el3length = |notunnels = 137 |tunnellength = |longesttunnel = |nobridges = 7800 |longestbridge = |nostations = 410 |highelevation = |highelat = |lowelevation = |lowelat = |map = |mapcaption = }}[[Image:Skikda Station.jpg|thumb|Skikda Station (20th century)]] The '''SNTF''' ({{langx|fr|Société nationale des transports ferroviaires}}, {{literal translation|National company for railway transport}}; {{langx|ar|الشركة الوطنية للنّقل بالسّكك الحديدية}}, {{transliteration|ar|ala-lc|al-Sharikah al-Waṭanīyah llnnql bālsskk al-ḥadīdīyah}}) is [[Algeria]]'s national [[railway]] operator. SNTF, a [[state-owned]] company, currently has a [[monopoly]] over Algeria's rail network of {{convert|3973|km|abbr=on}}, and it is currently utilising {{convert|3572|km|abbr=on}} of that (about 90 per cent). Out of the total railway network, {{convert|2888|km|abbr=on}} are {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}} ({{convert|283|km|abbr=on|disp=or}} of these are [[Railway electrification system|electrified]]) and {{convert|1085|km|abbr=on}} are {{Track gauge|1055mm}} [[narrow gauge]] (as of 2008).<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/algeria/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104184359/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/algeria/| url-status=dead| archive-date=January 4, 2021| title=Transport in Algeria| publisher=CIA| access-date=2010-11-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.sntf.dz/| title=SNTF website| publisher=SNTF| access-date=2008-02-23}}</ref>
==History== {{Main|History of rail transport in Algeria}}
===The beginnings=== [[Image:Guelma Station.jpg|thumb|People gather in front of [[Guelma]] [[train station]] (19th century postcard)]] The history of the railway in Algeria began with [[French Algeria|the colonisation of the country]] by [[France]]. On 8 April 1857, a [[decree]] ordered the creation of {{convert|1357|km|abbr=on}} of railways, beginning with the construction of a standard gauge line from [[Algiers]] to [[Blida]], which started on 12 December 1859. The French [[private company]] ''Compagnie des chemins de fer algériens'' started working on the line with the help of the [[French army]] on 11 July 1860. Around the same time, the company obtained permission to create an [[Oran]]-[[Sig (Algeria)|Sig]] line and a [[Constantine, Algeria|Constantine]]-[[Skikda]] line. However, due to economic difficulties, only the Algiers-Blida line was finished, and it was subsequently opened to the public on 8 September 1862. Afterwards, 5 other companies started the construction of new lines: *''La Compagnie [[Annaba|Bône]] - [[Guelma]]'' (''BG'') *''La Compagnie de l'Est Algérien'' (''EA'') (Eastern Algeria) *''La Compagnie Paris - Lyon - Méditerranée'' (''PLM'') *''La Compagnie de l'Ouest Algérien'' (''OA'') (Western Algeria) *''La Compagnie Franco - Algérienne'' (''FA'')
Between 1857 and 1878, the following lines (or parts of them) were finished, totalling {{convert|1365|km|abbr=on}}, which exceeded initial expectations: *Annaba - [[Berrahal]] *Annaba - [[Boughouf|Bouchegouf]] - Guelma *[[El Khroub]] - [[Oued Zenati]] *Constantine - [[Skikda]] *Constantine - [[Sétif]] *Algiers - [[Thénia]] *Algiers - Oran *[[Arzew]] - La [[Macta]] - [[Mohammadia, Mascara|Mohammedia]] *Mohammadia - [[Mécheria]] *[[Oued Tlélat]]-[[Sidi Bel Abbès]]
===Nationalisation === [[Image:Mohammedia Station.jpg|thumb|[[Mohammedia (Mascara Province)|Mohammedia]]'s [[train station]] (20th century)]] [[Image:Ouenza Station.jpg|thumb|[[Ouenza]]'s station, primarily for ore from the [[Société de l'Ouenza]] iron mines]] After 1879, France divided the railway lines being built into categories of ''local interest'' or of ''general interest'', with only the latter being eligible to receive state funding. The 18 July 1879 decree defined the extent of some "general interest" lines and ordered the construction of a further {{convert|1747|km|abbr=on}} of railways to expand the existing network. Between 1879 and 1906, the following lines (or parts of them) were finished, totalling {{convert|2035|km|abbr=on}}: *[[Souk Ahras]]—[[Tébessa]]—[[El Kouif|Le Kouif]]—[[Tunisia]]n border *[[Berrahal]]—[[Ramdane Djamel]] *[[Ouled Rahmoune]]—[[Khenchela]] *[[El Guerrah]]—[[Biskra]] *[[Sétif]]—[[Thénia]] with further lines to include [[Tizi Ouzou]], [[Béjaia]] and [[Sour El-Ghozlane]] *[[Blida]]—[[Berrouaghia]] *[[Mostaganem]]—[[Relizane]]—[[Tiaret]] *[[Oran]]—[[Arzew]] *[[Es Sénia]]—[[Aïn Témouchent]] *[[Sidi Bel Abbès]]—[[Tlemcen]]—[[Morocco|Moroccan]] border *[[Tabya, Sid Bel Abbés|Tabia]]—[[Crampel, Sidi Bel Abbès|Crampel]] *[[Mécheria|Méchéria]]—[[Béchar]] *[[Tizi]]—[[Mascara, Algeria|Mascara]]
In 1946, Algeria's total railway network comprised a total of {{convert|5014|km|abbr=on}} of active lines, in addition to [[Mining|mine]] lines, significantly more than the current network. After a while, the private companies were unable to maintain economic stability, which led the French government to buy the ''Franco - Algérienne'', ''Est Algérien'', ''[[Compagnie des chemins de fer Bône-Guelma|Bône-Guelma]]'' and ''Ouest Algérien'' in 1900, 1908, 1905 and 1920 respectively.
On 27 September 1912, the state-owned ''Compagnie des Chemins de Fer Algériens de l'Etat'' (CFAE) assumed control of all lines, except those owned by the ''Compagnie Paris - Lyon - Méditerranée''. On 1 July 1921, the CFAE and PLM agreed to share the Algerian railway network with the PLM operating the Algiers-Oran, Oran-Aïn Témouchent, Sidi Bel Abbès-Tlemcen-[[Oujda]]-Crampel, Blida-Hassi Bahbah lines (effectively Western Algeria) while the CFAE operated the rest.
On 30 May 1938, both companies were incorporated into the newly founded [[SNCF]], which operated all of [[Rail transport in France|France]]'s railway network, with the Algerian network becoming a ''région''. On 1 January 1939, the ''Office des Chemins de fer Algériens'' (''Office CFA'') was created, focusing on the Algerian network.
On 30 June 1959, an agreement was made between the French government and the OCFA leading to the creation of the ''Société des Chemins de Fer Français en Algérie'' which commenced operations on 1 January 1, 1960. This new company operated Algeria's railways until its replacement by the ''Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Algériens'' ''(SNCFA)'' on 16 June 1963, a year after [[Algerian War|Algeria's independence]].
===Post-Independence=== [[Image:Gare SNTF de l'Agha à Alger, Algérie.jpg|thumb|right|Train station ''Gare d’Agha'' at Algiers]] On 30 March 1976, the SNCFA split into the following companies: *SNTF, for the operation and maintenance of the lines; *SNERIF, for the renewal and extension of the network; *SIF, for the engineering and modernisation of the infrastructure. [[File:Reisezüge im Bahnhof Algier im Mai 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Long distance train to Constantine and commuter train in station Algier on 8. May 2001]]
This reorganisation was intended to improve the railway network and services in Algeria, however it proved unsuccessful, and the two latter companies were reintegrated into the SNTF. In 1980, a convention for the relations between the Algerian state and the SNTF was signed, officially called ''decree N° 88-128 of 28 June 1988''. This convention is still in effect and regulates the [[salary|salaries]] of the workers and the maintenance of the infrastructure, and bears similarities with the June 1959 convention. In December 1990, the SNTF became an [[Établissement Public à caractère Industriel et Commercial]] (EPIC).
===Recent investments=== Large investment programs were launched after 1980 to improve the Algerian railway network, such as the construction of the [[Jijel]]-[[Ramdane Djamel|Ramdane-Djamel]] line ({{convert|140|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}), the [[Béni Saf]] area railway, providing transportation for its [[cement]] plant ({{convert|23|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}), and in the [[Saïda, Algeria|Saïda]] (23 km) and [[Aïn Touta]] areas ({{convert|15|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}).
In addition to that, about {{convert|1400|km|abbr=on}} of track were replaced, both the [[track ballast]] and the [[railroad tie|railway tie]]s, as well as the duplication of the tracks of the ''Rocade Nord'' in Algiers (about {{convert|200|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}). Many [[train station]]s all over the country were modernised or even reconstructed, and there were also many improvements to the railways in the vicinities of Algiers and Annaba.
A new, separate organisation, [[Anesrif]], has been created to manage infrastructure investment whilst SNTF concentrates on day-to-day operations. Anesrif has awarded a series of contracts to build new infrastructure and upgrade existing lines, including the construction of a single-track line from [[Relizane]] to [[Tiaret]] and [[Tissemsilt]], forming part of the [[High Plateau line]].<ref>{{cite web | title=High Plateau railway construction contract | publisher=Railway Gazette | year=2010 | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/high-plateau-railway-construction-contract.html | access-date=2010-05-10 | archive-date=2010-05-14 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100514145940/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/high-plateau-railway-construction-contract.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Rolling stock== As of 2017, SNTF's rolling stock inventory consisted of: * 258 [[Locomotives]] * 10,129 [[Railroad car|Railway car]]s * 380 [[Passenger car (rail)|Passenger car]]s *17 [[Alstom Coradia]] - built at [[De Dietrich Ferroviaire]] plant in [[Reichshoffen]], France *17 [[Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles|CAF]] TDMD S/599 *64 [[Stadler FLIRT|Stadler Flirt]] <gallery widths="150" heights="150" class="center"> File:SNTF ZZe-02 - Metz - 2018.jpg|Mainline train [[Alstom Coradia]] ZZe-02 File:Train Automotor diésel ZZ 2202 de la SNTF (Algérie).jpg|[[Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles|CAF]] [[Regional rail]] "Inter-villes" Autorail TDMD S/599 File:Swiss Flirt for SNTF Algeria.jpg|[[Algiers suburban rail network|Commuter rail]] [[Stadler FLIRT|Stadler Flirt]] File:SNTF Train in El Asnam, on the Algiers-Skikda line.jpg|Locomotive [[EMD GT26 Series|GT36HCW]] with [[Passenger railroad car|passenger cars]] File:SNTF Class 060DR, Gare d'Oran.jpg </gallery>
== Railway links to adjacent countries == {{Track gauge|sg}} gauge links were built to both [[Rail transport in Morocco|Morocco]] and [[Rail transport in Tunisia|Tunisia]]. The Algeria-Tunisia railway resumed operation in August 2024, after several years of closure,<ref>{{citeweb|url=https://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5049755-tunisia-algeria-railway-resumes-services-after-30-year-hiatus|title=Tunisia-Algeria Railway Resumes Services after 30-Year Hiatus|date=August 12, 2024|website=Asharq Al-Awsat}}</ref> while the land border with Morocco has been closed since 1994.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 4, 2021 |title=Letter from Africa: Lamenting the Algeria-Morocco border closure |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57467644 |website=BBC}}</ref>
==Affiliations== The SNTF is a member of the following organisations: * [[African Union of Railways]] * [[Arab Union of Railways]] * [[Comité du Transport Ferroviaire Maghrebin]] (CTFM) (has its headquarters in Algiers) * [[International Union of Railways]] (UIC)
== See also == {{Portal|Trains}}
* [[History of rail transport in Algeria]]
* [[Narrow-gauge railway#Similar gauges|Similar gauges]]
== References and notes == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website}} {{in lang|fr}} *[https://archive.today/20131230135525/http://www.engrailhistory.info/r052.html EngRailHistory] The Railways of Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria ''(Internet Archive)'' {{Africa in topic|Rail transport in}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:National Company For Rail Transport}} [[Category:1055 mm gauge railways in Algeria]] [[Category:Algerian brands]] [[Category:Companies based in Algiers]] [[Category:Railway companies of Algeria]] [[Category:Rapid transit in Algeria]] [[Category:Algerian companies established in 1976]] [[Category:Standard-gauge railways in Algeria]]