Tunis 's Tramway & RFR Development Thread

[Tounsi]

Here comes Tunisia !!!

Name : TRANSTU
WebSite : http://www.snt.com.tn/




1885 : Le belge Joseph Closon fonde la Société Anonyme des Tramways de Tunis. Il met en service 5 lignes de tramway hippomobile :
- 1ère ligne Bab Jedid-Bab Bhar par Bab Jazira.
- 2ème ligneBab Bhar-Bab Souika par Bab Carthagène.
- 3ème ligne Bab Jedid-Bab Souika par la Kasbah.
- 4ème ligne Bab Bhar-La Marine (l’actuelle Avenue Habib Bourguiba).
- 5ème ligne Bab Bhar-Bab El Khadra

1900 : Création de la ligne ferroviaire Bab Saâdoun-Manouba.

1902 : La Compagnie Générale Française des Tramways (C.G.F.T) entame un programme d’électrification du réseau et crée, en même temps, la Compagnie des Tramways de Tunis(C.T.T).

1904 : - La Municipalité de Tunis concède à la C.G.F.T, la ligne urbaine de Bab El Khadra à l’Avenue Carnot.

1905 : La Compagnie Bône-Guelma cède la ligne T.G.M à la Compagnie des Tramways de Tunis (C.T.T). Le T.G.M connaît deux grands changements :
- L’électrification de la voie qui remplace le chemin de fer à vapeur.
- L’inauguration du premier tracé direct à travers le lac de Tunis. Cette ligne portera désormais le nom de T.G.M : Tunis-Goulette-Marsa.




1913 : Création de la ligne ferroviaire Tunis-Djebel Djelloud.



1944 : La C.T.T étudie un projet de remplacement par le trolleybus, de deux lignes urbaines desservies par le tramway. Il s’agit de :
- La ligne 1 Porte de France – la Kasbah (circulaire).
- La ligne 7 Porte de France – Avenue Carnot.

1946 : La C.T.T exploite par trolleybus, la desserte Porte de France – Montfleury, la ligne autobus Place Pasteur – Mutuelleville et la ligne 7 du tramway Porte de France – Avenue Carnot avec prolongement jusqu’à Mutuelleville.

1947 : La ligne autobus n°12 de Porte de France à Montfleury est, désormais, exploitée par trolleybus.

1948 : La ligne autobus Porte de France-El Omrane par Franceville voit le jour.

1950 : La ligne autobus desservant La Cagna est créée




1958 : Nationalisation des secteurs électricité et transport en commun de Tunis et Banlieue dont la gestion est confiée à un Comité de Gestion : Réseau Électricité et Transport (R.E.T).

1960 : - La gestion des services detransports routiers de voyageurs et de marchandises concédés à la Tunisienne Automobile des Transports (T.A.T) et sa filiale la Société Tunisienne de Transport Automobile du Sahel (S.T.T.A.S), est confiée, provisoirement, à la Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens :
- Disparition définitive du tramway.


1964 : La Société de Transport de Marchandises (S.T.M) est créée. La S.N.T n’exploite plus que le réseau du transport urbain dans la ville de Tunis et banlieue et le réseau de transport interurbain




1985 : Mise en service de la ligne 1 du Métro-Léger Tunis-Ben Arous.

1986 : Mise en place de la correspondance bus-métro à El Ouardia.

1989 : - La SNT, la SMLT et la SNCFT engagent ensemble une étude de restructuration de leurs réseaux.
- Mise en service de la ligne 2 du Métro-Léger Tunis-Ariana.

1990 : Mise en service de la ligne 3 du métro léger jusqu’à Ibn Khaldoun et de la ligne 4 jusqu’au Bardo.

1992 : Prolongement de la ligne 3 du métro léger à l’Intilaka. Ainsi, est crée la Ligne 5 du Métro-Léger.

1997 : Prolongement de la ligne 4 jusqu’au Den Den.


2003 : - (8 janvier) Annonce lors d'un comité interministèriel de la création de la STT.


2008: Mise en service de la ligne du Mourouj.
Alstom livre 30 rames du nouveau Tram Citadis qui circulentsur la ligne 1 du tramway de Tunis.

[Tounsi]

THE TGM Line : TUNIS-LA GOULETTE -LA MARSA:

in the 1900`s




Today :





in 5 years with the new RFR network :

[Augusto]

Originally Posted by Tounsi

It's Paris rolling stock MF2000

[Tounsi]

Originally Posted by Augusto

It's Paris rolling stock MF2000

Of course it is since they just delivered the CITADIS to Tunisia

Hopefully ours won't be that hideous .... IN YOUR FACE !!!!!!!!!!!

[Tounsi]

[Chavito]

Thanks for the pictures.

I have been looking for the TGM train timetable.

Could you post it?

[Tounsi]

Originally Posted by Chavito

Thanks for the pictures.

I have been looking for the TGM train timetable.

Could you post it?

I will BTW they are going to adapt the Tgm to the new railway system of the greater Tunis area .

[Tounsi]

The most northerly African country, the Tunisian Republic (Tunisia) has a population of around 10 million. This is mainly concentrated around the coastline in the north and east, with well over 10% in the metropolitan area of the capital, Tunis. A French territory for over 70 years that gained full independence in 1956, Tunisia has one of the most diversified and successful economies in Africa.

THE PROJECT

Public transport is overseen by Tunisia's Ministry of Transport, with constituent bodies operating the various modes. The Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (SNCFT) has continued development of the heavy rail standard and metre gauge routes, initiated under French control, with the 1,435mm operation centred on Tunis.

"By 1992 there were five light rail lines in operation, representing one of Africa's most comprehensive urban rail networks."An 18.7km electrified double-track suburban line with origins in 1872, the Tunis-Goulette-Marsa (TGM) links the city via a causeway across the Lac de Tunis with its north-eastern suburbs, including resorts and the historic Carthage area.

Tunis is just inland and set on low-lying land around several lakes. The heart of the city, the Medina, has a street pattern that long predates the industrial era or motorised transport. In 2003, the city's own road and rail public transport modes came together under the jurisdiction of the Société des Transports de Tunis, operating under the Transtu name.

Accounting for almost three quarters of revenue (2006), the company operates 217 bus routes over 6,882km with a fleet of 1,114 vehicles. As with most other large cities, road congestion is a feature of Tunis, although the challenge for public transport is as much about increasing capacity on their already well-used services as it is about stemming the rise in car use.

INFRASTRUCTURE

With the city set for continuing population growth, preliminary studies for light rail, the Métro Léger, began in 1974. A Siemens-led consortium won the contract to create the 1,435mm, overhead supply surface network. Line 1, Tunis Marine (also city terminus for the TGM) to Ben Arous in the south, opened in 1985.

By 1992 there were five lines in operation, representing one of Africa's most comprehensive urban rail networks. The routes mainly have reserved alignments, with many road crossings. There is interchange with the SNCFT terminus at Place Barcelone, part of the largest concentration of Métro lines from where the network displays a broadly radial pattern.

ROLLING STOCK

Following the lead of German sourcing when the TGM was re-equipped with Düwag -MAN units, the Siemens-led consortium supplied proven technology in the form of 134 bi-directional Düwag 30m units delivered in three batches, in 1985–1998. Running singly or in pairs, these vehicles operate throughout the network.

Following a tender of January 2003, in June 2004 an order was placed with Alstom for 30 Citadis type 302 five-unit low-floor sets, the first entering revenue service in September 2007. Supplementing rather than replacing the Düwag units, the initial Citadis fleet assembled at La Rochelle will provide an overall 5% capacity increase on the Métro.

Unusually for Citadis, it will operate over a 'legacy' infrastructure rather than being introduced as part of a new integrated project. The uni-directional units will run coupled 'back-to-back' to create ten-unit formations with a capacity of 668. The vehicles are modified for local conditions with added dust protection, more heat-resistant roof panels and special window coatings. A welcome addition for passengers over the original Düwag fleet is the incorporation of air conditioning.

"Accounting for almost three quarters of revenue (2006), Transtu operates 217 bus routes over 6,882km with a fleet of 1,114 vehicles."SIGNALLING AND COMMUNICATION

In terms of service information, facilities at tram stops are rudimentary compared with European standards, although high service frequency and straightforward routings offset potential problems. Onboard information systems of the Citadis reflect their modernity in contrast with the other Transtu vehicles alongside which they will operate. Information is provided in the official language, Arabic, and the widely spoken French.

THE FUTURE

Scheduled for batch completion in March 2008, the first Citadis trams will be followed by nine ordered in February 2007. Delivery and local certification has met the original targets. It is likely that the Alstom-sourced vehicles will see service beyond the initial allocation to Line 1. Transtu intends to issues tenders for a further 16 comparable vehicles for 2008/9. A project for infrastructure improvements valued at €15m is in hand, with a further €16m allocated to a broad programme for increasing system capacity. Some line modifications are required to accommodate Citadis operation.

Planned extensions include an extra 5km of Line 4 to reach the Mannouba University campus (cost: €32m) and a 6.8km branch from the present Line 1 to d'El Mourouj (cost: €43m).

[Tounsi]

• Population - City Approx. 1.100,000 (2007) The metroplis : 2.3 million
• Gauge 1,435mm
• Operator Les Société des Transports de Tunis (Transtu)
• Lines opened TGM – 1872; Métro – 1985
• System length - Metro 32.6km (20.3 miles)
• System length - TGM 18.7km (11.7 miles)
• Tram lines 5
• Tram stops (total by line) 70
• Suburban line (TGM) 1

[Tounsi]

Tender for Tunis' fast urban railway network - 16 May 2008
16-05-2008 - TUNISIA
Source : Ansamed
Country from : Tunisia
Activity : Public works, real estate, transport, utilities.
TRANSPORT: TUNISIA LAUNCHES FAST URBAN RAILWAY PROJECT

By ANSAmed

The project for the construction of the "fast urban railway network" (RFR) in the city of Tunis should be launched in June with the publication of the tender for the first stage of the project by the Tunisian Transport Ministry, 'Le Quotidien' daily quoted sources close to the ministry as saying. According to the preliminary studies, the network, which should contribute significantly to ease the traffic in the capital, will be some 80-kilometres-long. According to 'Le Quotidien', several French companies already confirmed - on the occasion of the recent visit of President Nicolas Sarkozy to Tunisia - their interest in the big transport projects in Tunisia and in the RFR project in particular.

[Tounsi]

Newsarticle
2008-02-08

Alstom wins contract for rail line in in Tunis

Saint Ouen Cedex, France - The Tunisian national rail company, SNCFT, granted a contract to the consortium lead by Alstom for installation of electrical work and signalling on the Tunis-Borj Cedria rail line (southern suburbs of Tunis). The contract is worth a total of €54 million, of which €36 million will go to Alstom.

Alstom is in charge of installing a substation (25 kV) that will power the rail line and its 105 km of overhead lines along 23 km of double track. Alstom will also supervise construction work to raise train station platforms. The rail operating system on the rail line (signalling and telecommunications) will be handled by Alstom’s partner, AnsaldoSTS.

Electrification of this line marks the first step in the construction of a rapid rail network (RFR) for the greater Tunis region. By restricting diesel in favor of electricity, this project is contributing to improving the quality of the environment. This new network will ultimately include five lines totalling 85 km of track. It will be able to carry over 20,000 passengers per hour per line between the suburbs of Tunis and the city centre. Commercial service is expected to begin during 2010.

This new contract shows Tunisia's confidence in Alstom's ability to support the country's development of large urban (tramway) and suburban railway projects. Before the end of 2008, Alstom will deliver 39 tram Citadis trainsets that will be used on Line 1 of Tunis's tramway system.

[Tounsi]

THE MAP OF THE EXISTING NETWORK :




THE RFR :



MAP OF THE NEW RFR NETWORK WITHIN THE GREATER TUNIS :

[Tounsi]

The NEW TRAMS AGAIN :











The old one :

[Tounsi]

Originally Posted by Chavito

Thanks for the pictures.

I have been looking for the TGM train timetable.

Could you post it?

[Tounsi]

Commercial service : sptember 2007

Number of train sets : 39

The commercial service of the CITADIS train sets began on september the 17th 2007. Tunis' CITADIS train sets are the first in service on the african continent

With its very high rate of demographic growth, Tunis has become one of the largest towns in North Africa.

The public transport network includes five underground lines, a suburban rail line and bus network. In 2004 the town council decided to complete the system with an 18 km tramway line to run between Tunis and Ben Arous. The line was opened in 2007.

By 2008 Tunis will have a fleet of 39 CITADIS trams, the first in Africa.

[Amroucheluxus]

Some infos about the TGM:
"Entre Tunis, La Goulette et La Marsa, circule Le toujours fameux "TGM" (Tunis-Goulette-Marsa). Ce train permettant aux Tunisois de fuir la canicule, pour aller sur les plages de la banlieue nord, fut le premier moyen de transport collectif à voir le jour dans une cité africaine, il y a 133 ans.
Le premier train a été inauguré par son Altesse Mohamed Sadok Bey le 31 août 1872 (which means we had a tram system when we still were indepenant, almost a decade before the french colonization). La dynastie de l’époque affaiblie se payait ainsi "un caprice" sous la pression des puissances coloniales qui se disputaient la Tunisie quelques années avant l’instauration du Protectorat de la France (1881-1956). Français, Anglais... étaient sur les rangs pour sa construction et ce sont les Anglais qui l’emportèrent.
C’est le TGM qui fut à l’origine de l’extension de Tunis vers le nord, créant ainsi ce qu’est devenue ensuite, en front de mer, la banlieue la plus prisée et la plus pittoresque.
Cette ligne porte officiellement le nom de TGM depuis 1905, date de l'inauguration du premier tracé direct à travers le lac de Tunis.
À terme, le TGM va être intégré dans le réseau du métro léger de Tunis et une nouvelle ligne sera construite vers Aïn Zaghouan et Bhar Lazrag (8,4 kilomètres). Une telle opération nécessitera la mise à niveau des quais de gares afin qu'ils soient adaptés aux rames du métro léger."

I found some interesting pictures about the first trains/metros that were used on that line...it's interesting to c the evolution of the locomotives through time

One of the first models - 1875


Sidi Bou Said Station - 1960


Once upon a time...Somewhere between Tunis and La Marsa...


Douar Chott (I don't know that place ...have you heard about it Tounsi, or some1 else?) - 1972


Some old retaired TGM wagons


The current metro/train (btw is it considered as a metro or a train...?)

[Chavito]

Thanks a lot for the pictures.

They are great!!!!!!

[Amroucheluxus]

U're welcome...actually I'm loking for more infos about recent developments and some new metro projrects in other major tunisian towns...

[Amroucheluxus]

TGM Sidi Bou Said Station

[Amroucheluxus]