Tunisia’s Minister of Development, Investment and International Cooperation, Zied Ladhari, and Flavia Palanza, the EIB’s Director of Operations in Neighbouring Countries, signed a EUR 83 million contract for the construction and commissioning of a new rapid 17 km rail network in the capital Tunis (RFR).
The EIB financing will be used for the acquisition of 28 trainsets needed for the new rapid transit system whose first-line operation is scheduled for October 2018. The loan will allow the construction of new essential infrastructures needed for the transit system such as a maintenance depot and additional parking areas at terminus stations.
The project involves two railway lines, D and E. The first section of line D will be extended with 11.3 km from Tunis to the city of Gobaa. It will serve 9 stations along the existing international line between Tunis and Algiers. The 8.2 km E line extension will be constructed from Tunis to Bougatfa city and will serve 7 stations.
“Through this new financing, EIB demonstrates its commitment to innovation, transport system development and climate change which is the keystone of sustainable development. The challenge is to enable Tunisia to develop an efficient and sustainable transport infrastructure,” Flavia Palanza said.
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