The history of rail transport in Algeria began in 1857 during the French colonization with the implementation of an initial plan for the creation of a railway network. This plan, formalized by a decree from Emperor Napoleon III, defined the initial framework of the Algerian railway network, which continued to evolve throughout the second half of the 19th century, both in terms of its scale and structure.
The initial railway network revolved around a main railway artery connecting the capital cities of the three departments of the country: Algiers, Constantine, and Oran. Branching out from these main lines were secondary lines that extended towards the major ports of the colony. These early railway lines primarily served the transportation of agricultural products and raw materials from Algeria to mainland France, as well as the movement of manufactured goods from coastal cities to the interior regions of the colony.
The Algerian railway network was constructed in a fragmented manner across different regions due to the presence of multiple concessionary companies and the lack of overall coordination. It was not until the early 20th century that the French government and the Algerian government unified the various components of the network and simplified its management by reducing the number of companies involved.
The railway network underwent significant evolution throughout the first half of the 20th century. At its peak, just before the outbreak of the Second World War, it encompassed up to of railway lines. However, following the war, railway transport in Algeria faced competition from road transport, and several secondary lines were closed in the decades leading up to the country's independence.
In 1962, the newly established Algerian state initially focused on managing the existing railway network, ensuring efficient operation and maintenance. It was not until the early 2000s that a major plan for modernization and expansion of the network was implemented. This involved the creation of new railway lines, the doubling or electrification of existing ones, and a gradual extension of the network to cover the entire country.
Significant developments included the construction of a railway ring road in the High Plateaus and the ongoing completion of feeder lines connecting major cities in the northern Sahara region. Moreover, studies are currently being conducted to extend these lines through the Sahara, connecting the Algerian railway network with neighbouring countries to the south. This expansion aims to facilitate the transportation of various goods, such as minerals and petrochemical products, by rail between Sahelian countries, Algerian ports, Europe, and other global destinations.
Period of Colonial Algeria
Railway line projects in Algeria prior to the 1857 decree Just a few years after the beginning of France's conquest of Algeria in 1830, politicians, industrialists, and investors proposed various railway line projects in Algeria.
In 1833 the financier and politician Émile Pereire published an article in the French newspaper Le National, in addition to discussing his ideas for the administration and colonization of Algeria, he presented a plan for establishing a railway system connecting Bône (Annaba) and Constantine to Algiers, and Algiers to Oran. According to Pereire:
In 1844 engineer Édouard de Redon put forward a proposal to construct a railway from Algiers to Blida, following the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. At the same time, Frédéric and Eugène Lacroix presented their project for a railway line connecting Philippeville (Skikda) to Constantine, including a port at Stora. M. Garbes also suggested two railway lines in the Oran region: one from Oran to Mostaganem and Hillil (Yellel), and another from Oran to Tlemcen.
In 1854 a group of investors developed a project to establish a comprehensive railway network in Algeria. This plan included multiple lines, such as the Algiers-Oran, Algiers-Constantine, Constantine-Bône with a branch line to Philippeville, Tlemcen-Mascara via Sidi Bel Abbès, and various branch lines to Mostaganem, Ténès, and Bougie (Béjaïa).
While the need for a railway network to promote colonization in Algeria was recognized during the assessment of these projects, the preliminary studies were deemed inadequate as they were either limited to specific regions or driven by private interests focusing on transporting goods from productive areas or mines seeking concessions. To address these concerns and fully facilitate colonization, the governor of Algeria, Jacques Louis Randon, assigned General François de Chabaud-Latour to conduct thorough studies and develop a comprehensive plan for the railway network. It was the outcome of these studies that led to the issuance of the imperial decree in 1857, marking the first concrete plan to establish a railway network in Algeria.
First railway line The Algiers–Blida line, which was inaugurated in 1862, is widely recognized as the first railway line in Algeria designed for both passenger and freight transportation. But the real first line was established in 1858 by the Société Civile des Mines et Hauts-Fourneaux des Karezas. This initial railway line spanned 11 km and connected the Karezas iron mine to the Seybouse River port, situated on the outskirts of Annaba. Operating on a meter-gauge track, it commenced operations on September 1, 1859, exclusively for the transportation of ore. Subsequently, it served as the foundation for the future .
First railway plan in Algeria: the 1857 program
Decree of April 8, 1857
After the French conquest of Algeria in 1830, several suggestions were made to establish a railway network that would facilitate the colonization of the region. But no substantial projects were initiated in response to these proposals.. It was not until the mid-1850s that General François de Chabaud-Latour, the senior commander of the engineering corps in Algeria, was assigned by Governor Jacques Louis Randon to assess the various suggestions and provide a comprehensive report. In one of his conclusions, he asserted:
It was only in 1857 that Marshal Vaillant, the Minister of War at the time, presented Emperor Napoleon III with a comprehensive plan for the construction of Algerian railways. The main axes of this plan are as follows:.
The emperor, agreeing with the plan, signed a decree on April 8, 1857, to create a railway network in Algeria. This decree, known as the 1857 Classification Decree, outlined the key aspects of the railway program in Algeria. It proposed the construction of a network, consisting of:.
A main line running parallel to the coast, connecting the capitals of the three provinces: Constantine, Algiers, and Oran. It would pass through or near Aumale (Sour El-Ghozlane), Sétif, Blida, Orléansville (Chlef), Saint-Denis-du-Sig (Sig), and Sainte-Barbe-du-Tlélat (Oued Tlélat), the total length of the line would be approximately 881 km. Additionally, there would be six branch lines starting from the main ports and joining the coastal line: From Philippeville to Constantine (87 km); From Bougie to Sétif (110 km); From Bône to Constantine (202 km); From Ténès to Orléansville (58 km); From Arzew and Mostaganem to Relizane (68 km); From Oran to Tlemcen via Sainte-Barbe-du-Tlélat and Sidi Bel Abbès (120 km);
Concessions of the first lines to the Algerian Railway Company (CFA)
The law of June 20, 1860, declares three sections of the lines planned in the 1857 plan as being of public utility:
Algiers – Blida (51 km); Oran – Saint-Denis-du-Sig (52 km); Philippeville – Constantine (87 km);
Only 190 km of railway lines were constructed out of the original plan of 1,357 km.
These short lines were given priority for construction as they connected the three major cities of colonial Algeria: Algiers, Constantine, and Oran. The primary objectives were to facilitate the exploitation of natural resources in these regions and to solidify French presence in Algeria.
The concession for these three lines was granted to a joint-stock company Chemins de Fer Algériens (CFA)The company was chaired by the Bonapartist Ferdinand Barrot. through an imperial decree on July 11, 1860. The CFA was specifically established by a group of businessmen, including the director of the Marseille port, who recognized the opportunity to enhance port activity by importing products from the colony.
However, the construction of the Algiers–Blida railway line was initiated in 1859, well before its concession was granted to the Algerian Railway Company (CFA).
Reattribution of concessions to the Paris, Lyons, Mediterranean Railway Company (PLM) The Algerian Railway Company (CFA), which was granted the concession for three priority lines in 1860, faced immediate financial challenges. Insufficient subscribed shares (only 33 000 out of 100 000 shares offered) resulted in a lack of capital, leading the company to declare bankruptcy. As a result, in 1863, all concessions were transferred to Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée (PLM) through the enactment of the June 11, 1863, law.
This redistribution was a decision made by Eugène Rouher, who served as the Minister of Commerce and Public Works. It was a result of his support for the PLM company during a conflict with the company Chemins de fer du Midi over the allocation of the Sète–Marseille line. As the PLM company emerged victorious from the dispute, the minister imposed the transfer of concessions from the CFA to the PLM as a form of compensation. The PLM gladly accepted the minister's decision, seeing it as a favorable outcome. In fact, the PLM management informed its shareholders that they anticipated certain indirect benefits from the completion of the Algerian railway network. They noted that their metropolitan network, which serviced the region facing Algeria, would now handle all traffic travelling to and from Algeria, thereby increasing their overall rail traffic. They also emphasized their keen interest in the creation and expansion of railway lines in Algeria.
Consequently, the PLM company became the concessionaire for 543 km of railway lines in Algeria, including the entire Algiers–Oran line :
The section from Algiers to Blida (51 km) of the Algiers–Oran line; The section from Blida to Saint-Denis-du-Sig (348 km) of the Algiers–Oran line; The section from Saint-Denis-du-Sig to Oran (59 km) of the Algiers–Oran line; The Philippeville to Constantine line (85 km);
By acquiring these concessions, the PLM, which already operated an extensive railway network in mainland France, now extended its reach from Marseille, the primary port for journeys to Algiers, all the way into Algeria.
Execution of the 1857 plan's lines The French government launched the construction of the Algiers to Blida section, which is the primary segment of the Algiers–Oran line, without waiting for the declaration of public utility. The construction work commences on December 12, 1859. Initially, it is the French Army that takes on the task of building the railway line.. The first section, connecting Algiers to Oran, is completed and opens for goods transportation on September 8, 1862, followed by passenger services on October 25, 1862.
The Algiers-Oran railway line was gradually opened in multiple stages:
The Algiers to Blida section was inaugurated on October 25, 1862; The Oran to Relizane section was opened on November 1, 1868; The Blida to Boumedfaa section was completed on July 8, 1869; The Relizane to Affreville (now Khemis Miliana) section was put into service on September 1, 1870. Finally, the Affreville to Boumedfaa section was opened on May 1, 1871.
As a result the entire 420 km-long line was fully operational in 1871, marking the completion of the project 12 years after construction began;
Philippeville–Constantine line