Algeria launches $2.5B railway construction tenders
Major rail project will link southern cities with high-speed passenger lines and freight capacity across 495 kilometers
ALGIERS, Algeria (MNTV) — Algeria has opened bids for major railway construction contracts worth more than $2.5 billion, advancing plans to expand transport infrastructure across its southern regions.
The state railway agency, Agence Nationale d’Etudes et de Suivi de la Realisation des Investissements Ferroviaires, issued two tenders covering the development of a 495-kilometer rail corridor linking Laghouat, Ghardaia and El-Meniaa.
The project is divided into two main sections. The first segment, spanning 265 kilometers between Laghouat and Ghardaia, is expected to cost around $1.4 billion.
It will include 21 viaducts, a tunnel, dozens of crossings and five stations, and is further split into four construction packages.
The second segment will extend 230 kilometers from Ghardaia to El-Meniaa, with an estimated cost of $1.2 billion. This portion will pass through several towns, including Mansourah and Hassi Lefhel, and will feature multiple structures and three stations.
Passenger trains on both lines are expected to operate at speeds of up to 220 kilometers per hour, while freight services will run at speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour, supporting both mobility and logistics across the region.
Authorities said the tenders were issued on March 25, with companies given until late May to submit bids.
The project also includes procurement of rolling stock and additional infrastructure works, reflecting a broader push to modernize Algeria’s rail network and improve connectivity in remote areas.
Earlier stages of the project included calls for engineering and supervision contracts, as well as expressions of interest from international and local firms.
The development has received financial backing from the African Development Bank, which approved a loan of approximately $870 million to support the initiative.
Officials say the railway forms part of a wider strategy to strengthen national infrastructure, including long-term plans to connect northern and southern regions through an expanded rail system.
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