# SNTF

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Algeria's national railway operator

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National Rail Transportation Company Native name الشركة الوطنية للنّقل بالسّكك الحديدية Type State-owned Industry Rail transport Area served Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco Products Rail transport, Cargo, transport, Service, more... Revenue 4.5 billion DZD Number of employees 12,933 [when?]

National Rail Transportation Company Société Nationale des Transports Ferroviaires الشركة الوطنية للنّقل بالسّكك الحديدية SNTF, votre partenaire idéal (French: SNTF, your ideal partner) SNTF trains at Agha Station in 2025 Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge 4,200 km (2,600 mi) 1,055 mm (3 ft 5+1⁄2 in) 1,085 km (674 mi) Electrification Main Voltage ([clarification needed]) Overhead Features No. tunnels 137 No. bridges 7800 No. stations 410

Skikda Station (20th century)

The **SNTF** ([French](/source/French_language): *Société nationale des transports ferroviaires*, lit. 'National company for railway transport'; [Arabic](/source/Arabic_language): الشركة الوطنية للنّقل بالسّكك الحديدية, *al-Sharikah al-Waṭanīyah llnnql bālsskk al-ḥadīdīyah*) is [Algeria](/source/Algeria)'s national [railway](/source/Railway) operator. SNTF, a [state-owned](/source/State-owned) company, currently has a [monopoly](/source/Monopoly) over Algeria's rail network of 3,973 km (2,469 mi), and it is currently utilising 3,572 km (2,220 mi) of that (about 90 per cent). Out of the total railway network, 2,888 km (1,795 mi) are 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) [standard gauge](/source/Standard_gauge) (283 km or 176 mi of these are [electrified](/source/Railway_electrification_system)) and 1,085 km (674 mi) are 1,055 mm (3 ft 5+1⁄2 in) [narrow gauge](/source/Narrow_gauge) (as of 2008).[1][2]

## History

Main article: [History of rail transport in Algeria](/source/History_of_rail_transport_in_Algeria)

### The beginnings

People gather in front of [Guelma](/source/Guelma) [train station](/source/Train_station) (19th century postcard)

The history of the railway in Algeria began with [the colonisation of the country](/source/French_Algeria) by [France](/source/France). On 8 April 1857, a [decree](/source/Decree) ordered the creation of 1,357 km (843 mi) of railways, beginning with the construction of a standard gauge line from [Algiers](/source/Algiers) to [Blida](/source/Blida), which started on 12 December 1859. The French [private company](/source/Private_company) *Compagnie des chemins de fer algériens* started working on the line with the help of the [French army](/source/French_army) on 11 July 1860. Around the same time, the company obtained permission to create an [Oran](/source/Oran)-[Sig](/source/Sig_(Algeria)) line and a [Constantine](/source/Constantine%2C_Algeria)-[Skikda](/source/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 [Bône](/source/Annaba) - [Guelma](/source/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 1,365 km (848 mi), which exceeded initial expectations:

- Annaba - [Berrahal](/source/Berrahal)

- Annaba - [Bouchegouf](/source/Boughouf) - Guelma

- [El Khroub](/source/El_Khroub) - [Oued Zenati](/source/Oued_Zenati)

- Constantine - [Skikda](/source/Skikda)

- Constantine - [Sétif](/source/S%C3%A9tif)

- Algiers - [Thénia](/source/Th%C3%A9nia)

- Algiers - Oran

- [Arzew](/source/Arzew) - La [Macta](/source/Macta) - [Mohammedia](/source/Mohammadia%2C_Mascara)

- Mohammadia - [Mécheria](/source/M%C3%A9cheria)

- [Oued Tlélat](/source/Oued_Tl%C3%A9lat)-[Sidi Bel Abbès](/source/Sidi_Bel_Abb%C3%A8s)

### Nationalisation

[Mohammedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mohammedia_(Mascara_Province)&action=edit&redlink=1)'s [train station](/source/Train_station) (20th century)

[Ouenza](/source/Ouenza)'s station, primarily for ore from the [Société de l'Ouenza](/source/Soci%C3%A9t%C3%A9_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 1,747 km (1,086 mi) of railways to expand the existing network. Between 1879 and 1906, the following lines (or parts of them) were finished, totalling 2,035 km (1,264 mi):

- [Souk Ahras](/source/Souk_Ahras)—[Tébessa](/source/T%C3%A9bessa)—[Le Kouif](/source/El_Kouif)—[Tunisian](/source/Tunisia) border

- [Berrahal](/source/Berrahal)—[Ramdane Djamel](/source/Ramdane_Djamel)

- [Ouled Rahmoune](/source/Ouled_Rahmoune)—[Khenchela](/source/Khenchela)

- [El Guerrah](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=El_Guerrah&action=edit&redlink=1)—[Biskra](/source/Biskra)

- [Sétif](/source/S%C3%A9tif)—[Thénia](/source/Th%C3%A9nia) with further lines to include [Tizi Ouzou](/source/Tizi_Ouzou), [Béjaia](/source/B%C3%A9jaia) and [Sour El-Ghozlane](/source/Sour_El-Ghozlane)

- [Blida](/source/Blida)—[Berrouaghia](/source/Berrouaghia)

- [Mostaganem](/source/Mostaganem)—[Relizane](/source/Relizane)—[Tiaret](/source/Tiaret)

- [Oran](/source/Oran)—[Arzew](/source/Arzew)

- [Es Sénia](/source/Es_S%C3%A9nia)—[Aïn Témouchent](/source/A%C3%AFn_T%C3%A9mouchent)

- [Sidi Bel Abbès](/source/Sidi_Bel_Abb%C3%A8s)—[Tlemcen](/source/Tlemcen)—[Moroccan](/source/Morocco) border

- [Tabia](/source/Tabya%2C_Sid_Bel_Abb%C3%A9s)—[Crampel](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Crampel,_Sidi_Bel_Abb%C3%A8s&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Méchéria](/source/M%C3%A9cheria)—[Béchar](/source/B%C3%A9char)

- [Tizi](/source/Tizi)—[Mascara](/source/Mascara%2C_Algeria)

In 1946, Algeria's total railway network comprised a total of 5,014 km (3,116 mi) of active lines, in addition to [mine](/source/Mining) 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*, *[Bône-Guelma](/source/Compagnie_des_chemins_de_fer_B%C3%B4ne-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](/source/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](/source/SNCF), which operated all of [France](/source/Rail_transport_in_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 [Algeria's independence](/source/Algerian_War).

### Post-Independence

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.

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 [salaries](/source/Salary) 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](/source/%C3%89tablissement_Public_%C3%A0_caract%C3%A8re_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](/source/Jijel)-[Ramdane-Djamel](/source/Ramdane_Djamel) line (140 km or 87 mi), the [Béni Saf](/source/B%C3%A9ni_Saf) area railway, providing transportation for its [cement](/source/Cement) plant (23 km or 14 mi), and in the [Saïda](/source/Sa%C3%AFda%2C_Algeria) (23 km) and [Aïn Touta](/source/A%C3%AFn_Touta) areas (15 km or 9.3 mi).

In addition to that, about 1,400 km (870 mi) of track were replaced, both the [track ballast](/source/Track_ballast) and the [railway ties](/source/Railroad_tie), as well as the duplication of the tracks of the *Rocade Nord* in Algiers (about 200 km or 120 mi). Many [train stations](/source/Train_station) 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](/source/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](/source/Relizane) to [Tiaret](/source/Tiaret) and [Tissemsilt](/source/Tissemsilt), forming part of the [High Plateau line](/source/High_Plateau_line).[3]

## Rolling stock

As of 2017, SNTF's rolling stock inventory consisted of:

- 258 [Locomotives](/source/Locomotives)

- 10,129 [Railway cars](/source/Railroad_car)

- 380 [Passenger cars](/source/Passenger_car_(rail))

- 17 [Alstom Coradia](/source/Alstom_Coradia) - built at [De Dietrich Ferroviaire](/source/De_Dietrich_Ferroviaire) plant in [Reichshoffen](/source/Reichshoffen), France

- 17 [CAF](/source/Construcciones_y_Auxiliar_de_Ferrocarriles) TDMD S/599

- 64 [Stadler Flirt](/source/Stadler_FLIRT)

		- Mainline train [Alstom Coradia](/source/Alstom_Coradia) ZZe-02

		- [CAF](/source/Construcciones_y_Auxiliar_de_Ferrocarriles) [Regional rail](/source/Regional_rail) "Inter-villes" Autorail TDMD S/599

		- [Commuter rail](/source/Algiers_suburban_rail_network) [Stadler Flirt](/source/Stadler_FLIRT)

		- Locomotive [GT36HCW](/source/EMD_GT26_Series) with [passenger cars](/source/Passenger_railroad_car)

## Railway links to adjacent countries

1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gauge links were built to both [Morocco](/source/Rail_transport_in_Morocco) and [Tunisia](/source/Rail_transport_in_Tunisia). The Algeria-Tunisia railway resumed operation in August 2024, after several years of closure,[4] while the land border with Morocco has been closed since 1994.[5]

## Affiliations

The SNTF is a member of the following organisations:

- [African Union of Railways](/source/African_Union_of_Railways)

- [Arab Union of Railways](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arab_Union_of_Railways&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Comité du Transport Ferroviaire Maghrebin](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Comit%C3%A9_du_Transport_Ferroviaire_Maghrebin&action=edit&redlink=1) (CTFM) (has its headquarters in Algiers)

- [International Union of Railways](/source/International_Union_of_Railways) (UIC)

## See also

- [Trains portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Trains)

- [History of rail transport in Algeria](/source/History_of_rail_transport_in_Algeria)

- [Similar gauges](/source/Narrow-gauge_railway#Similar_gauges)

## References and notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Transport in Algeria"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210104184359/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/algeria/). CIA. Archived from [the original](https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/algeria/) on January 4, 2021. Retrieved 2010-11-01.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["SNTF website"](http://www.sntf.dz/). SNTF. Retrieved 2008-02-23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["High Plateau railway construction contract"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100514145940/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/high-plateau-railway-construction-contract.html). Railway Gazette. 2010. Archived from [the original](http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/high-plateau-railway-construction-contract.html) on 2010-05-14. Retrieved 2010-05-10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Tunisia-Algeria Railway Resumes Services after 30-Year Hiatus"](https://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5049755-tunisia-algeria-railway-resumes-services-after-30-year-hiatus). *Asharq Al-Awsat*. August 12, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Letter from Africa: Lamenting the Algeria-Morocco border closure"](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57467644). *BBC*. July 4, 2021.

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.sntf.dz/) (in French)

- [EngRailHistory](https://archive.today/20131230135525/http://www.engrailhistory.info/r052.html) The Railways of Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria *(Internet Archive)*

v t e Rail transport in Africa Sovereign states Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Djibouti Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia Gabon The Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Kenya Lesotho Liberia Libya Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Morocco Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Rwanda São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Togo Tunisia Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe States with limited recognition Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Somaliland Dependencies and other territories Canary Islands / Ceuta / Melilla (Spain) Madeira (Portugal) Mayotte / Réunion (France) Saint Helena / Ascension Island / Tristan da Cunha (United Kingdom) Western Sahara

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [SNTF](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SNTF) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SNTF?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.