Anesrif: Preliminary studies for high speed railway line launched in Algeria

Preliminary studies for a high speed railway line in the northern bypass have been recently launched, National agency for studies and monitoring of railway investment implementation (Anesrif) announced on Sunday.“These studies will determine the passage of the high speed train, whether on the side of the current railway or in parallel, but a bit far,” Anesrif General Director Azeddine Fridi told APS.Algeria, whose road network is saturated, intends to gradually move towards rails and strengthen its railway network to cover its whole territory through many projects aimed to install new rails, modernize and duplicate current lines.Transport sector endeavours to achieve 12,500 km of rails in the middle against the current 4,500 km, including 6,000 km underway, Fridi says.Regarding the northern bypass which extends over 1,200 km, Anserif intends to carry out rails duplication, modernization and electrification works over this bypass, in addition to projects aimed at connecting ports to dry ports in order to transport goods via rail.Highlands bypass would reach some 1,160 km, stretching from the east (Tébessa) to west (Sidi Bel Abbas), the same official added.Some 700 km are underway to finalize the whole project meant to open up highland cities and promote better economic exploitation of the region, Fridi stressed.