After Decades of Neglect, Corruption, and Marginalisation, Tunisia Commits to a Bold Railway Modernisation Strategy
After decades of neglect, corruption and marginalisation that weakened the rail network and degraded services, Tunisia is now resolutely pursuing a modernisation strategy for railway transport.
In the 1980s, rail was a key driver of economic development and national cohesion. Today it is regaining its place at the heart of the State’s strategic projects. This commitment is evident in the launch of a high‑speed train (TGV) project and a north‑south railway corridor designed to link Bizerte with Ben Guerdane, unlock isolated areas and boost the mobility of people and goods.
The ministerial council, recently chaired by Prime Minister Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri, examined the detailed plans for the project, which fits into a broader vision of integrated public‑transport development.
A Rail‑Centred Mobility Vision
The strategy aims to reinforce rail as the central pillar of national mobility, leveraging its comparative advantages and added value for the Tunisian economy. The government intends to create a coherent public‑transport system in which rail, road and urban transport complement each other, improving logistics and travel across the entire territory.
Light‑Metro Revitalisation
Alongside the TGV and corridor, the State is tackling the renovation of the light‑metro network, whose infrastructure and rolling stock are in a critical state of decay. A comprehensive rehabilitation programme includes the acquisition of new trainsets and the renewal of tracks to guarantee safe and efficient urban transport.
Deep Structural Reforms
These initiatives reflect the State’s ambition to carry out profound structural reforms, rebuilding an ageing and deteriorated railway system on solid foundations with short‑, medium‑ and long‑term action plans backed by the necessary investments.
Rail as a Lever for Sustainable Development
Rail development is seen as a major driver of sustainable growth. It helps to lower transport costs, facilitate the movement of goods and raw materials, and open up interior and rural zones. By improving citizens’ mobility, speeding up journeys and ensuring safety, rail enhances investment attractiveness, job creation and territorial balance in the distribution of development opportunities.
The TGV project and the north‑south corridor therefore follow an economic‑social integration logic, strengthening national cohesion while supporting growth.
A Comprehensive Modernisation Agenda
In the same vein, the National Strategy for 2030 foresees a comprehensive modernisation of all transport systems—rail, road, maritime and air—focusing on carbon‑emission reduction, better governance and sustainable development.
Investment in railway transport is accompanied by a sweeping reform of the public institutions responsible for the sector, modernisation of infrastructure and optimisation of asset management, all aimed at establishing an integrated, efficient and lasting public‑transport network.
By placing rail at the core of this strategy, Tunisia signals its choice to make railway transport a engine of economic and social development. The TGV, the north‑south corridor and the light‑metro upgrade are not merely infrastructure projects: they embody the State’s determination to strengthen mobility, reduce regional inequalities and support sustainable development, while creating jobs and improving citizens’ quality of life.
These initiatives illustrate a coherent, holistic approach where public transport becomes a strategic lever for growth, investment attractiveness and national cohesion.
