Algeria’s Transport Minister Amar Tou, and the President of the Algiers Metro Authority (EMA), Aomar Hadbi, ushered in the start of commercial tramway service in Algiers, the first Algerian city to possess a modern tram network, to be provided by Alstom Transport.

Utilized by the Urban and Suburban Bus Transportation for Algiers (ETUSA), Alstom’s Citadis tramway runs on the line’s initial segment, which Mediterrail delivered to the EMA in December 2010.

With the completion of two additional sections currently under construction (Hussein Dey– Bab Ezzouar and Bordj El Kiffan–Dergana), the line will extend 14 miles and includes 38 stations along with eight transfer hubs.

Alstom, the project leader for the Mediterrail consortium, is providing a comprehensive service that includes a portion of the civil engineering, all the infrastructure (platform, rails, electrification, signalin, and ticketing), the workshop-depot at Bordj El Kiffan and the central command post.

Alstom also is supplying the fleet of 41 Citadis trainsets, already delivered in full. In addition, Alstom will be responsible for maintaining the tramway system equipment and the Citadis tramsets for 10 years.

The Algiers tramway trainsets were specially designed to meet the EMA’s operating needs and feature both the proven equipment standard on all Citadis trams, representing years of accumulated Citadis expertise and a number of customized elements, including the design of the driver’s cabin, the livery and the interior fittings.

Algeria’s first tramway is notable for its accessibility, large capacity and comfort. The integral low floor and eight lateral doors ensure easy, level access from the platforms, especially for those with reduced mobility.

Each tramset is 131 feet in length and can accommodate from 300 to 400 passengers during peak travel times. The air conditioning and large tinted glass windows, plus the seating and wide aisles, passenger information displays in French and Arabic, and quiet engine operation are all designed to ensure pleasant travel conditions.

This transport infrastructure project is part of the development program initiated by the Algerian government in response to a growing demand for public transport.