Tunisia - General Information: Difference between revisions

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==Official Website==
==Official Website==
[http://www.sncft.com.tn/ www.sncft.com.tn] Note that the English version is marked as "Under construction".
[http://www.sncft.com.tn/ www.sncft.com.tn]


==Language==
==Language==
Line 24: Line 24:


===Downloadable Timetable===
===Downloadable Timetable===
* There do not appear to be any downloadable timetables available for the Main Lines.
* There do not appear to be any downloadable SNCFT timetables available for the Main Lines. However, the [http://www.fahrplancenter.com/Fahrplan_SNCFT.html Fahrplancenter website] does provide comprehensive timetable information.
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_tunis/horaire.php Tunis Suburban]
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_tunis/horaire.php Tunis Suburban]
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_sahel/horaire.php Sousse Suburban]
* [http://www.sncft.com.tn/fr/banlieue_sahel/horaire.php Sousse Suburban]
Line 35: Line 35:


==Maps==
==Maps==
There is no currently available published map of Tunisian Railways. A hand drawn map of the Tunis area is available on the [http://www.avoe05.dsl.pipex.com/Tunis.pdf Rinbad website].
===Printed Maps===
There is no currently available published map of Tunisian Railways. A hand drawn map of the [[Maps and Plans#Tunisia|Tunis area]] is available.
 
===Web-based Maps===
*A list of lines and rudimentary map are available on the [http://www.sncft.com.tn/En/network_11_34 SNCFT] web page. This page contains a useful list of lines and their lengths. However, this map predates the construction of the Sousse avoiding line, and the consequent closure of the (former) main line route south from Sousse to Sousse Bab Jedid. Therefore mileages south of Sousse will be correct station-to-station but not cumulatively from Tunis.
 
*A system map and plan of the Tunis area are available in [[Maps and Plans#Tunisia|Maps and Plans - Tunisia]]


==Gauge==
==Gauge==
Line 41: Line 47:


==Electrification==
==Electrification==
* 25 kV 50Hz SNCFT: Sousse – Mahdia and, in course of being electrified, Tunis Ville – Erriadh.
* 25 kV 50Hz SNCFT: Sousse – Mahdia and Tunis Ville – Erriadh.
* 650V dc? TGM: Tunis Marine – La Marsa,
* 650V dc? TGM: Tunis Marine – La Marsa.


==Rule of the road==
==Rule of the road==
Line 60: Line 66:


==Recent and future changes==
==Recent and future changes==
In recent years, there has been considerable investment in the metre gauge lines to the south of Tunis. For example, a line avoiding Sousse was opened in 2004 which eliminates a level crossing and street running in Sousse city centre. A number of cut offs and deviations have also been built e.g. north of Bir Bouregba. The Sahel (= coast) suburban service from Sousse Bab Jedid to Mahdia has been reopened and improved.
There has been considerable investment in the metre gauge lines to the south of Tunis. For example, a line avoiding Sousse was opened in 2004 which eliminates a level crossing and street running in Sousse city centre. A number of cut offs and deviations have also been built e.g. north of Bir Bouregba. The Sahel (= coast) suburban service from Sousse Bab Jedid to Mahdia has been reopened and improved.
The intensively worked metre gauge suburban route from Tunis Ville to Erriadh is currently being electrified.
The overhead lines on the intensively worked metre gauge suburban route from Tunis Ville to Erriadh were energised on 10 August 2011.


Over recent years the following lines have lost their passenger services
The Tinja - Menzel Bourguiba line lost its passenger service some years ago.
* Les Salines to Le Kef
* Tinja to Menzel Bourguiba


There are long term plans to build a standard gauge route from Libya to Gabes in south eastern Tunisia.
There are long term plans to build a standard gauge route from Libya to Gabes in south eastern Tunisia.


The branch from Les Salines, on the Tunis - Kalaa Khasba line, to (Le) Kef was reopened in 2011 after a gap of 19 years, with one Autorail Express each way from/to Tunis Ville.
The branch from Les Salines, on the Tunis - Kalaa Khasba line, to (Le) Kef was reopened in 2011 after a gap of 19 years, with one Autorail Express each way from/to Tunis Ville.
Resumption of passenger services between Tunisia and Algeria over the Ghardimaou - Sidi El-Hémissi border crossing was still "projected" at September 2020.
A tourist service (''La Rose des Sables'') ran for a period in 2015, covering the non-passenger Kalaâ Kasbah - Kasserine line, but did not survive.


==Special Notes==
==Special Notes==
Note that in the present climate of unrest (February 2011) travel to Tunisia is not advised.
Note that travel to some parts of Tunisia is not advised; see the [https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tunisia UK Government Foreign travel advice website].


Freight services operate over the standard gauge route into Algeria via Ghardimaou, but there are no advertised passenger services.
Freight services operate over the standard gauge route into Algeria via Ghardimaou but there are no cross-border passenger services as at February 2015; see Recent and Future Changes above.

Revision as of 15:59, 7 January 2021

Country Name

Tunisia (Tunisie)

National railway system

La Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (SNCFT)

Official Website

www.sncft.com.tn

Language

Arabic and French.

Currency

Tunisian Dinar, symbol TND.

UIC code

Numeric 91; alpha TN

Timetable

Journey Planner

Downloadable Timetable

Printed Timetable

No book for the whole network seems to be available, but printed leaflets for individual routes are available at many stations.

Engineering Information

None.

Maps

Printed Maps

There is no currently available published map of Tunisian Railways. A hand drawn map of the Tunis area is available.

Web-based Maps

  • A list of lines and rudimentary map are available on the SNCFT web page. This page contains a useful list of lines and their lengths. However, this map predates the construction of the Sousse avoiding line, and the consequent closure of the (former) main line route south from Sousse to Sousse Bab Jedid. Therefore mileages south of Sousse will be correct station-to-station but not cumulatively from Tunis.

Gauge

Standard and Metre.

Electrification

  • 25 kV 50Hz SNCFT: Sousse – Mahdia and Tunis Ville – Erriadh.
  • 650V dc? TGM: Tunis Marine – La Marsa.

Rule of the road

Left on SNCFT; right on TGM.

Other Railways

Tunis - Goulette - Marsa (TGM): Electrified standard gauge suburban route from Tunis Marine to La Marsa Plage, owned and operated by the Société des transports de Tunis (Transtu).

Tourist Lines

None, although private tourist services operate over the SNCFT metre gauge line from Metaloui to the scenic Selja gorge.("Le Lezard Rouge").

Metro

None.

Trams

Tunis.

Recent and future changes

There has been considerable investment in the metre gauge lines to the south of Tunis. For example, a line avoiding Sousse was opened in 2004 which eliminates a level crossing and street running in Sousse city centre. A number of cut offs and deviations have also been built e.g. north of Bir Bouregba. The Sahel (= coast) suburban service from Sousse Bab Jedid to Mahdia has been reopened and improved. The overhead lines on the intensively worked metre gauge suburban route from Tunis Ville to Erriadh were energised on 10 August 2011.

The Tinja - Menzel Bourguiba line lost its passenger service some years ago.

There are long term plans to build a standard gauge route from Libya to Gabes in south eastern Tunisia.

The branch from Les Salines, on the Tunis - Kalaa Khasba line, to (Le) Kef was reopened in 2011 after a gap of 19 years, with one Autorail Express each way from/to Tunis Ville.

Resumption of passenger services between Tunisia and Algeria over the Ghardimaou - Sidi El-Hémissi border crossing was still "projected" at September 2020.

A tourist service (La Rose des Sables) ran for a period in 2015, covering the non-passenger Kalaâ Kasbah - Kasserine line, but did not survive.

Special Notes

Note that travel to some parts of Tunisia is not advised; see the UK Government Foreign travel advice website.

Freight services operate over the standard gauge route into Algeria via Ghardimaou but there are no cross-border passenger services as at February 2015; see Recent and Future Changes above.