Algerian Radio
The first passenger train connecting Tindouf to Béchar departed on Saturday following a grand inauguration of the Tindouf railway station by a major ministerial delegation. According to the Director of Management Control of Holdings at the National Rail Transport Company (SNTF), the SNTF has implemented the necessary measures to ensure the successful launch of this train, as well as to meet the challenge of this mega-project.
The train whistle sounded yesterday in Tindouf, to the delight of the region's inhabitants and the entire population residing in the country's South-West.
Speaking as the first guest of the week on the program "L'invité du jour" (The Guest of the Day) on Channel 3 of Algerian Radio, Mr. Aibèche indicated that the operation of the Western railway line, particularly regarding the mining sector, will proceed gradually, paralleling the evolution of the quantities of iron ore to be transported.
"These will be trains with 34 wagons. We will start by transporting 500,000 tons in 2026, before moving to 1 million tons in 2027," he explained, adding, "From 2028, the plan will change, as we will switch to trains with 170 wagons, measuring 2.2 km in length. This is when we will truly begin operating heavy, slow trains."
For the Channel 3 guest, this marks the first time the SNTF will transport such large quantities of freight, whether in bulk or manufactured products. It represents a significant operational challenge, for which the SNTF has made every effort to prepare.
"The SNTF has implemented all necessary measures to ensure this launch succeeds. regarding rolling stock, particularly for the first phase, we have deployed 120 wagons for freight transport and 6 high-power locomotives. The same arrangement has been established for passenger transport," he detailed.
Regarding human resources, the speaker revealed that the SNTF has recruited 554 employees for this start-up phase. All of these staff members are currently undergoing theoretical and practical training at SNTF training establishments.
"We are also preparing the operational plan for 2028, 2029, and 2030, including all human resource needs, notably train drivers and maintenance technicians for both equipment and infrastructure," he revealed.
When asked about the material resources utilized, Mr. Aibèche indicated that for this first phase, the SNTF used existing resources available to it. However, the wagons and locomotives were refurbished at specialized SNTF workshops located in Rouiba (Algiers), Mohammadia (Mascara), and Sidi Bel Abbès.
Regarding the second phase, scheduled for 2028, the speaker stated that the SNTF has put in place a comprehensive investment plan for the acquisition of necessary assets, with a budget of 258 billion dinars.
"We have scheduled the acquisition of 5,000 wagons, 60 very high-power locomotives for freight transport, 4 locomotives for passenger transport, 21 passenger coaches, and 15 shunting locomotives. This is an investment plan that will allow us to begin the second phase with ease," he announced.
To conclude, Mr. Aibèche was asked about ticket prices for this line. He indicated that the fare for a first-class ticket is 1,490 dinars, compared to 1,175 dinars for second class.
