The Trans-Maghreb Railway project will rehabilitate and modernise the railway connection between Casablanca, Algiers and Tunis. Its first phase covers modernisation of the Fez-Oujda line in Morocco, rehabilitation of the Morocco-Algeria border section, development of a new Algeria-Tunisia cross-border section between Annaba and Jendouba and modernisation of the Jendouba-Jedeida line. Future expansion towards Libya and Mauritania is a longer-term concept rather than part of the current country list.
The project is intended to restore and modernise a continuous railway corridor between Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The approved first-phase scope includes modernisation of the Fez-Oujda line, rehabilitation of the Oujda-Akid Abbas cross-border section between Morocco and Algeria, creation of a new Annaba-Jendouba connection between Algeria and Tunisia and modernisation of the Jendouba-Jedeida section.
The technical concept includes rehabilitation and duplication of selected lines and structures, electrification using a 2x25 kV system, deployment of ERTMS Level 2 train control and targeted signalling and telecommunications improvements. Current PIDA technical material describes an approximate 2,300 km Casablanca-Tunis corridor. These are planned parameters, not completed outputs.
The project-location countries are Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Libya and Mauritania are mentioned only as possible future extensions and are not recorded as current project countries in the PAP II approved record. The Arab Maghreb Union and the national railway institutions are responsible for regional coordination.
The African Development Bank's project P-Z1-DC0-017 finances the pre-feasibility study for rehabilitation and modernisation of the Trans-Maghreb Railway. AfDB continued to list the operation as ongoing, with an implementation progress report issued for June 2024. This demonstrates active preparation but not completion of feasibility or entry into investment structuring.
The project aims to rehabilitate and modernise the railway corridor linking Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia and improve the continuity, reliability and quality of cross-border rail services. It is intended to reduce journey times, improve safety and interoperability and provide an efficient alternative to road and air transport.
It also seeks to strengthen trade and economic integration in the Maghreb, improve passenger and freight mobility and harmonise railway technology and operating arrangements among the participating countries. A future extension towards Libya and Mauritania may broaden the corridor after implementation of the core Casablanca-Algiers-Tunis connection.