The Algiers tramway is finally into service

08 May, 2011

ALGIERS - After two years of delay, the Algiers tramway went into service Sunday on a first stretch of 7.2 km between the eastern neighborhoods, densely populated areas, thereby reducing the dense traffic but at the cost of urban landscape disfigured.

The launching started one hour later than scheduled due to a power outage, according to radio channel III, but the first tram has started to roll in mid-day.

On board the Transport Minister Amar Tou, the Algerian company staff of the Subway of Algiers (EMA) and the operator property of Urban and Suburban Transport Algiers (ETUSA) and the French Alstom, which turns on its Featured Citadis tram.

"A Tram just as powerful as that of Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Reims," ​​said a spokesman for Asthom, Eric Lenoir, surrounded by a crowd of people in this area of ​​new buildings in Bordj el Kiffan.

In 2009, the commissioning of the section began between the district of Bab Ezzouar, near the airport, and Bordj el Kiffan, a former tourist area known for its barbecue and gelato now partially destroyed by the line of the tram.

Consisting of 13 stations, this section has 12 trains, which will transport daily between 10,000 and 15,000 people at a price of 20 dinars (0.2 euro cent) ticket, from six in the morning to 9 pm.

Eventually, the tram will run on 23 km to the headquarters of Hussein Dey in Dergana in the east and would cost 35 billion dinars (350 million Euros) with 38 stations.

Algiers, a city of some three million people, stretching over several hills, is served by four lifts and a bus network, estimated at 3,454 units, according to the Ministry of Transport.

The works are made by Alstom companies (France) for the system part and Todini (Italy) and ETRHB (Algeria) for civil engineering. Other tram lines are being built in Oran (west) and Constantine (east).

Source: Ennahar.
Link: http://www.ennaharonline.com/en/news/6473.html.