Tunis Metro (Tunis Light Metro)

Tunis Light Metro (المترو الخفيف لمدينة تونس)

Tunis Light Metro

The Tunis Metro or Tunis Light Metro, also Tunis light rail or in Tunisian Arabic: المترو الخفيف لمدينة تونس, el-metrū el-khfīf li-mdīnat tūnis is the light rail network serving the Tunis Metropolitan area. It began operation in 1985.

Tunis Metro's light rail system has its track at a surface level generally with its rail bed, but at key intersections, the system goes underground to avoid congestion or has the right of way. Together with the TGM commuter rail line, it is managed by the parastatal transport authority Société des transports de Tunis (Transtu).

While some African cities once had traditional electric tram systems, all but the Alexandria Tram were discontinued. The Tunis Metro's modern light rail system was originally unique in Africa, but there are now modern trams in Algeria and Morocco, as well.

Tunis Light Metro History

Tunis had an older electric tram system that, like in many cities, eventually was dismantled. With the post-war growth of the metropolitan area and the traffic congestion that followed, the need for a commuter transportation system became evident. The city eventually decided to link the suburbs to the city centre with a modern network of light rail. Preliminary studies were undertaken in 1974. The system was delivered as a turnkey operation by a consortium led by Siemens. The Société du métro léger de Tunis (SMLT) was founded in 1981 to manage the operation.

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 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) operation centred on Tunis.

Tunis is set on low-lying land around several lakes just inland from the Mediterranean Sea coast. The heart of the city, the Medina, has a street pattern that long pre-dates the industrial era or motorised transport. In 2003, the city’s 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 6,882 km (4,276 mi) 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 the capacity of their already well-used services as it is about stemming the rise in car use.

Construction on Line 1 started in 1981, and passenger services commenced in 1985. In 1989, Line 2 became operational, with Lines 3 and 4 following the next year. Line 5 became operative in 1992, while in the same year, Line 3 was extended to its current length. In 1997, the extension of Line 4 was inaugurated, and further construction for an extension to La Manouba began in 2007.

The Société des transports de Tunis took over management in 2003, it was formed by joining the SMLT and the Société nationale de transports (SNT, founded in 1963) that was responsible for the TGM railway. A new Line 6 was planned to link Tunis with El Mourouj and its construction began in 2005. This new line was completed in 2009. New Alstom Citadis trams to supplement the earlier Siemens trams were introduced in 2007.

Tunis Light Metro Overview

Tunis Light Metro Locale: Tunis, Tunisia
Tunis Light Metro Transit Type: Light rail
Tunis Light Metro Number of Lines: 6
Tunis Light Metro Number of Stations: 80 (2021)
Tunis Light Metro Began Operation: 1985
Tunis Light Metro Operator(s): Société des transports de Tunis
Tunis Light Metro Number of Vehicles: 173 (134 Siemens and 39 Alstom Citadis)
Tunis Light Metro System Length: 45.2 km (28.1 mi)
Tunis Light Metro Track Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Tunis Light Metro Electrification: Overhead lines, 750 V DC