| High Plateau line | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Status | Under construction |
| Operation | |
| Operator(s) | SNTF |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Standard gauge |
The High Plateau line is network of railway lines under construction across Algeria. The project is managed by Anesrif.
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| High Plateau line, Algeria | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The route runs 1200 km from Tebessa in the east to Moulay Slissen in the west, via Tiaret and M'Sila, through a sparsely populated area bordering the Atlas mountains and the Sahara; 18 new passenger stations are planned.[1] This route incorporates some elements of the existing network, connected by 630 km of new lines.[2]
Most of Algeria's existing rail network is further north, along the coast; the "inland" route allows traffic to bypass the main "Rocade Nord" route through Constantine, Algiers, and Oran. This project goes hand in hand with Anesrif's other plans to improve Algeria's 4000 km of existing railways.[3]
A further stretch of railway will run from Tlemcen to a new station at Maghina and then to the Moroccan border at Akid Abbas.[4] The border with Morocco has been sealed since 1994, but there is pressure to reopen the border to travellers.[5][6]
The route is mostly being built for 160 km/h (99 mph) running; the line near the Moroccan border is designed for higher speeds. The line is standard gauge (even though it crosses some existing 1055 mm (approximately 3 feet, 6 inches) gauge lines[7]) and mostly single-track.[3]
There is provision for 25 kV electrification in the future. GSM-R will be used for communications.[8]
The project is being managed by Anesrif, an Algerian state agency which is undertaking several large projects to revitalise railways and build new infrastructure.[9][10][11] Anesrif has awarded contracts to various consortia.
Once in operation, new lines will be operated by SNTF.
The east-west High Plateau line incorporates some elements of existing Algerian lines, although away from the coast, existing infrastructure has mostly been north-south.[2]
As existing railways in Algeria are poorly utilised, despite expensive investments in the past, there have been concerns about the authorities' ability to manage capacity appropriately.[16] Away from the coast, Algeria is sparsely populated, although cities are expected to grow as a result of improved infrastructure; this has already happened in Tiaret.[17]