| Ouargla Tramway | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||
| Native name | ترامواي ورقلة | ||
| Owner | Entreprise Métro d'Alger (EMA) | ||
| Locale | Ouargla, Algeria | ||
| Transit type | Tram | ||
| Number of lines | 1 | ||
| Number of stations | 16 | ||
| Website | Official website | ||
| Operation | |||
| Began operation | 20 March 2018[1] | ||
| Operator(s) | SETRAM | ||
| Technical | |||
| System length | 9.6 km (6.0 mi) | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
| |||
The Ouargla Tramway (in Arabic: ترامواي ورقلة) is a tramway network serving the city of Ouargla, Algeria. Opened in 2018, the network is operated by the Société d'exploitation des tramways (SETRAM) and owned by the Entreprise Métro d'Alger (EMA). The network currently consists of one 9.6 kilometre long line connecting Ouargla with its western suburbs. Three new extensions to the network are currently planned.[2]
History
The design studies and project management for the Ouargla tramway were awarded to the French company Systra in 2011,[3] with detailed design studies being completed later that year.[4] On 5 November 2012, the déclaration d'utilité publique of the tramway was officially approved.[5]
In June 2013, the EMA (Entreprise Métro d'Alger) awarded the contract for construction of the tramway to a consortium of three Spanish companies: Rover Alcisa, Elecnor, and Assignia.[3][6][7] The first stone of the tramway project was laid on the 6th of August, 2013,[8] and full construction of the first phase of the system, from Chenine Kadour to Sid Rouhou over a distance of 9.6 kilometres, began later in November 2013.[9]
In 2014, 23 Alstom Citadis tram vehicles were ordered to operate on the network,[10][11] the first of which was delivered on the 20th of December 2016.[10][12][13] Commissioning of the tramway was originally meant to take place by the end of 2017,[10] however this was later delayed to take place in early 2018.
The tramway officially opened for service on the 20th of March 2018.[11][14][15][16]
System
Route and infrastructure
The tramway network's only line runs on an east-west alignment over a distance of 9.6 kilometres and 16 stops, making it the shortest tram network in Algeria. It runs from the southern edge of Ouargla's city centre at Sid Rouhou east to the new town of Haï Ennasr via the University of Ouargla and the city's intercity bus terminal.[2] The line runs almost entirely at-grade, with a dedicated right-of-way in the median or on the side of main roads.[2] The largest piece of infrastructure on the line is a 40 metre long bridge over the N49 motorway[9][17] south of Safrani Abdelkader station.
As Ouargla is one of the hottest inhabited places on earth,[2] the tramway has some special features in order to withstand the conditions found in the city. The rails of the tramway are made from R260 type steel,[2] which is designed to be resilient to rough conditions, while the tram depot is also air-conditioned[4] in order to cool off the trams, which are swapped on the hottest days of the year.[2] Additionally, the tracks are cleaned every day of sand blown in from the desert using a specialised vehicle equipped with powerful suction nozzles.[2]
The tram uses standard-gauge (1435 mm) tracks, and electricity is supplied by a 750 V DC overhead wire.[2] The depot and maintenance centre is located near the Gare Multimodale station.
Stations
The stations are listed from west to east:
| Stations | Commune served | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | Chenine Kadour - شنين قدور | Ouargla | ||
| ● | Khalil Abdelkader - خليل عبد القادر | Ouargla | ||
| ● | Safrani Abdelkader - سفراني عبد القادر | Ouargla | ||
| ● | 27 Février 1962 - فيفري 1962 27 | Ouargla | ||
| ● | Gare Multimodale - المحطة متعددة الخدمات | Ouargla | ||
| ● | Nouveau Pôle Universitaire - القطب الجامعي الجديد | Ouargla | ||
| ● | Teman Ahmed - تمان أحمد | Ouargla | ||
| ● | El Allama Mouhamed Ben El Hadj Aissa - العلامة محمد بن حاج عيسى | Ouargla | ||
| ● | Cheikh Ben Atia Djelloul - الشيخ بن عاطية جلول | Ouargla | ||
| ● | El Chatti El Wakal - الشطي الواكل | Ouargla | ||
| ● | El Mkhadma - المخادمة | Ouargla | ||
| ● | Hassani El Taib - حساني الطيب | Ouargla | ||
| ● | Zoubidi Abdelkader - زوبيدي عبد القادر | Ouargla | ||
| ● | Ben Abbas Hamadi - بن عباس حمادي | Ouargla | ||
| ● | Colonel Seddiki Larbi - الكولونيل صديقي العربي | Ouargla | ||
| ● | Sid Rouhou - سيد روحو | Ouargla |
Rolling stock
The tramway fleet consists of 23 7-section Alstom Citadis 402 vehicles.[2]
Ordered in 2014, the trams were locally assembled as kits by the Cital joint-venture in Annaba.[11] The first tram was delivered on the 20th of December 2016,[10][12][13] and delivery continued until 2018.[2] Like the tram line itself, the vehicles have also been specially adapted in order to withstand the desert conditions. The trams have reinforced air-conditioning, sun-repellent coating, and insulated mechanical components (including the pantograph, shock absorbers, motors, joints, and brakes) in order to keep the most sensitive parts of the vehicles protected from blown sand and high temperatures.[10][2] The low-floor trams are around 44 metres long, and have a capacity of over 400 passengers.[10]
Planned lines and extensions
As of early 2025, there are three extensions planned for the network:[2]
- Sid Rouhou - Ksar (loop line, 2.8 km)
- Sid Rouhou - El Hadeb (5 km)
- Chenine Kadour - Bamendil (4 km)
The loop line from Sid Rouhou to the Ksar (old town) was included with the initial plans for the tram network, however its construction was not included in the first phase. Switches and tracks for the line south to El Hadeb have already been installed,[2] however all lines remain in the planning phase, with no set date for the start of construction.
Operation
Since its opening, the tramway has been operated by Société d'exploitation des tramways (SETRAM), a joint-venture established in 2012 for the operation of tram networks nationwide.[18]
References
- ^ "Ouargla tramway inaugurated". Railway Gazette International. March 20, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Kußmagk, Bernhard; Schwandl, Robert (2025), Tram Atlas: Nordafrika & Naher Osten = Tram Atlas: North Africa & Middle East (1. Auflage ed.), Berlin: Robert Schwandl Verlag, ISBN 978-3-936573-82-4
- ^ a b "Ouargla Tramway". Railway Technology. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ^ a b "Ouargla Tram - Algeria". Group. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
- ^ "Décret no. 12-383 du 5 novembre 2012 portant déclaration d'utilité publique l'opération de réalisation de la premiére ligne de tramway de Ouargla" [Decree no. 12-383 of 5 November 2012 declaring the public utility of the operation of realization of the first line of the Ouargla tramway] (PDF). Official Journal of the Algerian Republic (62): 11. 14 November 2012.
- ^ International, Railway Gazette. "Spanish consortium to build Ouargla tram line". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
- ^ "Elecnor, in consortium with Rover Alcisa and Assignia, wins a EUR 230 million contract to construct a tramline in Algeria - 2013-06-11". Elecnor Group. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
- ^ Administrator. "ASSIGNIA INFRAESTRUCTURAS COLOCA LA PRIMERA PIEDRA DEL TRANVÍA DE OUARGLA, EN ARGELIA". assignia.com (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 2014-07-18. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
- ^ a b "Ouargla Tramline" (PDF). www.elecnor.com.
- ^ a b c d e f "Cital delivers the first Citadis tram to Ouargla in Algeria". Alstom. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
- ^ a b c "CITAL met en service le premier tramway du Sahara à Ouargla | CITAL" (in French).
- ^ a b International, Railway Gazette. "Desert tram delivered to Ouargla". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
- ^ a b Barrow, Keith (2016-12-21). "Ouargla receives first Citadis LRV". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
- ^ International, Railway Gazette. "Ouargla tramway inaugurated". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
- ^ Barrow, Keith (2018-03-20). "Ouargla opens first light rail line". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
- ^ "Alstom and EMA inaugurate the tramway system of the city of Ouargla in Algeria". www.alstom.com. Archived from the original on 2018-03-27. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ^ "Rover Grupo | Tranvía Ouargla". www.rovergrupo.com. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
- ^ "Espace Client". setram.dz (in French). Retrieved 2025-09-13.
External links
- Systra project page for the Ouargla tramway
- Rover Group project page for the Ouargla tramway
- Elecnor Group project dossier for the Ouargla tramway
- SETRAM webpage for the Ouargla tramway
- Ouargla at UrbanRail.net
