First metro line in Algerian capital starts passenger service

Siemens, as the consortium leader, delivered the complete rail system as a turnkey project. Photo: Yelles.

The President of the Algerian Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika inaugurated the first metro line in the capital of Algeria, Algiers on 31 October.
Siemens, as the consortium leader, delivered the complete rail system as a turnkey project.
The Siemens scope of supply comprised the automatic train control system Trainguard MT CBTC, the radio communication system Airlink and the train location system Digiloc.
Siemens also installed the telecommunication system, the traction power supply, the trackworks and the ticket vending system. The operations control center was also equipped with technology from Siemens.
The company was also responsible for the project management and the entire project planning. Consortium partners were Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A. (CAF) and Vinci Construction.
The Algerian government is investing into the country’s infrastructure in the context of an economic development program.
The focus is on the expansion and building of the public transport network.
Algiers is the largest city in the country with more than three million inhabitants and also the most important Algerian traffic hub.
The metro system is designed to help reduce the daily congestion in the capital and to improve the mobility of its inhabitants.
The line comprises ten stations and runs from the south to the north and along the coast line in a western direction into the city center of Algiers.
“As a long-standing industrial partner in Algeria, Siemens is proud to contribute to improving the quality of life of the inhabitants of Algiers. For this purpose, we have relied on the collaboration with Algerian engineers and technicians in our teams in Paris and Algiers from the onset of the project in order to equip this first metro line,” indicated Eric Cazeaux, CEO of the Siemens France Rail Systems Division.
In the medium term, EMA plans to expand the line by 3.5 kilometers. The first section is operated by RATP El Djazaïr, a subsidiary of the Paris public transport operator.
EMA expects around 300,000 passengers per day on the entire metro line. A further expansion of the metro network in Algiers to a total of three lines is planned.