Métro léger de Tunis
Encyclopedia
The Métro léger de Tunis (also Tunis Métro, Standard Ar.
: المترو الخفيف المدينة تونس ,al-metrū al-khafīf al-madīna tūnis) is an expanding public transportation network for the Tunis
area that was started in 1985. It represents not a subterranean transit system but a light rail
network.
Metro leger's light rail system has its track at surface level generally with its own rail bed, but at key intersections, the system goes underground to avoid congestion or has the right of way. Together with the TGM
rail line it is managed by the parastatal transport authority Société des transports de Tunis
(Transtu).
While once a number of African cities had traditional electric tram
systems, all but the Alexandria Tram
and Algiers Tram were discontinued. The Metro leger's modern light rail system is unique for Africa
.
, and delivered between 1984 and 1997. These trains were related to those used in Hanover Stadtbahn
The bi-directional trains are powered via a 750 V dc overhead wire and run on a 1435 mm track. A train consists of two wagons each of which has:
In 2004, an agreement between the French and Tunisian governments led to the order of 30 new Citadis
trams built by Alstom
. Each train consists of two trams of 64 metre length to hold 208 people standing and 58 sitting. The first such trains started to operate on September 17, 2007. 16 more trams were ordered from Alstom in July 2010.
The trams have a green livery with a white line.
at Place de Barcelone and with TGM at Tunis Marine. The lines are (2007):
On October 2, 2007 a 2 year project started to extend Line 4 by 5.2 km to reach the Université de la Manouba. Further extensions are planned.
operation by a consortium led by Siemens
. The Société du métro léger de Tunis (SMLT) was founded in 1981 to manage the operation. Construction on Line 1 started the same year and was completed by 1985 when passenger service commenced. In 1989 Line 2 was placed into operation, and Line 3 and 4 followed the next year. Line 5 became operative in 1992; 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 was started 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 is planned to link Tunis with El Mourouj
and its construction began in 2005. New Citadis trains from Alstom
to supplement the earlier Siemens trains were introduced in 2007.
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
: المترو الخفيف المدينة تونس ,al-metrū al-khafīf al-madīna tūnis) is an expanding public transportation network for the Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
area that was started in 1985. It represents not a subterranean transit system but a light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
network.
Metro leger's light rail system has its track at surface level generally with its own rail bed, but at key intersections, the system goes underground to avoid congestion or has the right of way. Together with the TGM
TGM
Tunis-Goulette-Marsa or TGM is a 19 km Tunisian railway line linking the capital Tunis with La Marsa via La Goulette.The TGM was the first railway in Tunisia and inaugurated in 1872. Since 1905 it has been known as the TGM...
rail line it is managed by the parastatal transport authority Société des transports de Tunis
Société des transports de Tunis
The Société des transports de Tunis or Transtu is the parastatal authority to manage public mass transit in the greater Tunis area. It supervises the bus network, the Métro léger de Tunis and the TGM rail link to La Marsa...
(Transtu).
While once a number of African cities had traditional electric tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
systems, all but the Alexandria Tram
Alexandria Tram
The Alexandria tramway network serves the city of Alexandria, Egypt. It consists of 38 stations. It is one of only 3 non-heritage tram systems in the world that use double-deck cars. The others are Blackpool in the UK and Hong Kong.- History :...
and Algiers Tram were discontinued. The Metro leger's modern light rail system is unique for Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
Tram vehicles
By 2006, 136 articulated passenger trams were in operation. They were built by SiemensSiemens AG
Siemens AG is a German multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Munich, Germany. It is the largest Europe-based electronics and electrical engineering company....
, and delivered between 1984 and 1997. These trains were related to those used in Hanover Stadtbahn
Hanover Stadtbahn
The Hanover Stadtbahn is a Stadtbahn light rail system in the city of Hanover, Germany that opened in September 1975, gradually replacing the city's tramway network over the course of the following 25 years. As of 2005, it transports 115 million passengers per year...
The bi-directional trains are powered via a 750 V dc overhead wire and run on a 1435 mm track. A train consists of two wagons each of which has:
- bogies typ Bo-2-2-Bo
- electric motors 2 x 240 kW
- weight of 40,3 tonnes
- length of 30 meters
- width of 2,47 meters
- access from low and high platforms
In 2004, an agreement between the French and Tunisian governments led to the order of 30 new Citadis
Citadis
The Citadis is a low-floor tram built by Alstom in La Rochelle, France, and Barcelona, Spain. 1,140 Citadis are currently in use in 28 cities, among others: Bordeaux, Grenoble, Lyon, Montpellier, Orléans, the Paris area, and Barcelona, Dublin, Gdańsk, Katowice, Adelaide, Melbourne, Jerusalem and...
trams built by Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
. Each train consists of two trams of 64 metre length to hold 208 people standing and 58 sitting. The first such trains started to operate on September 17, 2007. 16 more trams were ordered from Alstom in July 2010.
The trams have a green livery with a white line.
Network
By 2007 the Metro leger comprised a network of 32 kilometers with 47 stations. There is an intersection with the Tunisian RailwaysTunisian Railways
The Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens , abbreviated SNCFT, is the national railway of Tunisia and under the direction of the Ministry of Transport. SNCFT was founded on December 27, 1956. Headquartered in Tunis the company employs about 6000 people...
at Place de Barcelone and with TGM at Tunis Marine. The lines are (2007):
- Line 1 : Tunis Marine - Ben ArousBen ArousBen Arous is a coastal town in northeastern Tunisia. It is located at around and is the capital of the Ben Arous Governorate.-Information about Ben Arous:...
(South)- Length : 9.2 kilometers
- Number of daily trains : 125
- Hours of operation : 03h25 / 23h05
- Running time : 27 minutes
- Line 2 : Place de Barcelone - ArianaArianaAriana was a region of the eastern countries of ancient Iran, next to India.Ariana may also refer to:* Ariana In places:*Ariana Governorate, a governorate in Tunisia*Ariana, Tunisia*Lake Ariana, a lake in Sofia, Bulgaria...
(North)- Length : 8.9 kilometers
- Number of daily trains : 133
- Hours of operation : 04h20 / 22h50
- Running time: 28 minutes
- Line 3 : Place de Barcelone - Ibn Khaldoun (North-West)
- Length : 8.4 kilometers
- Number of daily trains : 51
- Hours of operation : 05h55 / 19h30
- Running time : 28 minutes
- Line 4 : Tunis Marine - Den Den (West)
- Length : 9.8 kilometers
- Numbers of daily trains : 105
- Hours of operation : 04h36 / 22h35
- Running time : 32–35 minutes
- Line 5 : Place de Barcelone - Intilaka (North-West)
- Length : 9.8 kilometers
- Number of daily trains : 103
- Hours of operation : 04h09 / 22h35
- Running time : 34–35 minutes
- Diametrical Line 12 : 10 décembre - El Ouardia VI (only during rush hours 6h00 - 8h30 and 17h00 - 19h30)
- Length : 12.03 kilometers
- Running time : 39 minutes
- Diametrical line 14 : Den Den - El Ouardia VI (only during rush hours 6h00 - 8h30 and 17h00 - 19h30)
- Length : 14 kilometers
- Running time : 47 minutes
On October 2, 2007 a 2 year project started to extend Line 4 by 5.2 km to reach the Université de la Manouba. Further extensions are planned.
History
Tunis had an older electric street car system that, like in many cities, eventually was dismantled. With the growth of the Tunis area the need for a commuter transportation system became evident leading to the decision to link the city with its suburbs by a modern light rail system. The system was delivered as a turnkeyTurnkey
A turn-key or a turn-key project is a type of project that is constructed by a developer and sold or turned over to a buyer in a ready-to-use condition.-Common usage:...
operation by a consortium led by Siemens
Siemens
Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
. The Société du métro léger de Tunis (SMLT) was founded in 1981 to manage the operation. Construction on Line 1 started the same year and was completed by 1985 when passenger service commenced. In 1989 Line 2 was placed into operation, and Line 3 and 4 followed the next year. Line 5 became operative in 1992; 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 was started 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 is planned to link Tunis with El Mourouj
El Mourouj
El Mourouj is a town and commune in the Ben Arous Governorate, Tunisia....
and its construction began in 2005. New Citadis trains from Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
to supplement the earlier Siemens trains were introduced in 2007.
See also
- List of Tunis Metro stations
- List of town tramway systems in Africa
- Réseau Ferroviaire RapideRéseau Ferroviaire RapideThe Réseau Ferroviaire Rapide is a planned urban rail system in Tunis, in Tunisia.-Network:In Phase I of the project, a 17·9 km, Y-shaped network will be built, with 14 stations. Both lines will terminate at a station at place de Barcelone; Line D will run to Gobaâ and Line E will run to...
- Transport in TunisiaTransport in TunisiaTunisia has a number of international airports to service its sizable tourist trade. Tunis is the center of the transport system as the largest city having the largest port and a light transit system.- Railways :...