Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens

Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens (SNCFT)

The Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens, or in English: Tunisian National Railway Company, abbreviated SNCFT, is the national railway of Tunisia and under the direction of the Ministry of Transport. SNCFT was founded on December 27, 1956. It Replaced the Tunisian Railway Farms Company (Company Fermiere et Chemin de fer Tunisien) (CFT). Headquartered in Tunis the company employs about 6000 people. SNCFT provides both passenger and freight services at a national level.

Tunisia inherited much of its rail transport system from the French and the Tunisian Government has developed the infrastructure further. Due to historical reasons, the country has two different track gauge systems. Thus SNCFT manages 471 km of 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge network in the northern and a 1,674 km of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge network in the central and southern part of the country (65 km electrified), only 8 km are dual gauge track (2006). Tunisia has a rail link with neighbouring Algeria via the border at Ghardimaou, but passenger services are limited to a single round-trip per day.

SNCFT Rolling Stock

SNCFT owns about 180 diesel engines, 15 diesel railcars, 6 electric rail cars, over 200 passenger cars, and more than 5200 freight cars. On order are diesel engines that will attain a speed of 130 km/h, China South has supplied locomotives, two of which are used on the Tunis – Beja – Jendouba line.

SNCFT Passenger Service

In 2003 SNCFT served about 35.7 million passengers a year. It offers "grand confort", first class, and second class services. Fast air-conditioned trains ("Direct Climatisé") are air-conditioned in all three classes, and faster "Express" trains are also air-conditioned but have only first class and grand-confort class. Commuter trains (omnibus for local and banlieu for suburban service) usually contain only first and second class. In 2008 SNCFT took delivery of some new diesel multiple unit trains which are marketed as "Autorail Express". These are used on the routes from Tunis to Sousse and Sfax, with one round trip per day from Tunis to Dahmani.

SNCFT Tunis Area

Local rail-based transportation providers are managed by the Société des transports de Tunis and consist of the Metro leger, a light rail network, and the 19 km Tunis-Goulette–La Marsa 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge light rail link (TGM).

SNCFT provides local services in the Eastern suburbs of Tunis:

• Tunis - Radès - Hammam Lif - Borj Cédria - Erriadh, electrification is now completed.

Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens Overview

SNCFT Founded: 27 December 1957
SNCFT Headquarters: Tunisia