The Bechar-Tindouf railway corridor is now operational, connecting Algeria’s Gara Djebilet iron ore deposit with the national railway network. The 950km line entered service in February 2026, following construction works completed within 30 months, according to the National Agency for Studies and Monitoring of Railway Investment Projects (ANESRIF).
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune officially launched operations on February 1, welcoming the first passenger train from Tindouf and the first iron ore shipments travelling towards Oran. The milestone strengthens Algeria’s mining logistics and supports plans to expand domestic steel production.
Bechar–Tindouf railway corridor connects major mining infrastructure
The railway stretches approximately 950km between Béchar, Tindouf and the Gara Djebilet mining area in southwestern Algeria. It forms the second section of the wider western mining railway corridor, which extends approximately 1,650km from Oran to Gara Djebilet.
ANESRIF reports that construction of the Béchar–Tindouf–Gara Djebilet section took no more than 30 months. The project includes seven new railway stations and infrastructure designed to accommodate heavy freight traffic.
Technical trials began in January 2026, ahead of the operational launch. Subsequently, authorities prepared the railway stations and freight arrangements for the start of passenger and mining transport services.
The first ore shipments established a direct rail connection between Gara Djebilet and processing facilities further north. This connection addresses a major logistical challenge associated with developing a remote mineral deposit.
Bechar–Tindouf railway corridor supports iron ore transport
The railway serves the Gara Djebilet deposit, which Algeria is developing as part of its strategy to diversify the economy beyond hydrocarbons. The line enables the movement of iron ore towards Béchar and onward to industrial facilities in the Oran region.
Algeria’s national railway operator, Société Nationale des Transports Ferroviaires (SNTF), is operating passenger services between Béchar and Tindouf. Authorities also plan to increase freight volumes as mining and processing activities expand.
SNTF has outlined a phased freight programme. According to Algerian Radio, the operator planned to transport 500,000 tonnes of iron ore in 2026, rising to one million tonnes in 2027. From 2028, the railway could accommodate longer, heavier freight trains as operations develop.
These targets remain dependent on mining output, processing capacity and logistics readiness. Nevertheless, the operational railway establishes the infrastructure needed to move larger quantities of ore across southwestern Algeria.
The project also supports wider industrial ambitions. Algeria intends to increase domestic processing and strengthen its iron and steel sector, although the railway’s opening does not confirm that all associated industrial facilities have been completed.
Bechar–Tindouf railway corridor forms part of Algeria’s wider expansion
Algeria is pursuing further railway construction beyond the western mining corridor. A separate 341km tender reported by MEED in October 2026 concerns the southern railway route towards In Salah and Tamanrasset.
That package differs from the operational Béchar–Tindouf–Gara Djebilet line. However, both projects reflect the government’s broader strategy to extend railway connectivity, support regional development and improve freight transport.
The wider expansion could connect more remote communities with economic centres while strengthening the movement of mineral and industrial products. The western railway’s operational launch marks a major step in that strategy, while future projects will determine the network’s next phase of growth.
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Overview of the proposed Bechar-Tindouf railway corridor project in Algeria
Around twenty buildings, including a 9km bridge and a station at the regional capital of Abadla (88km south of Bechar), will be connected to this first stretch.
The network will also have a 30-kilometre ramp connecting the prospective steelmaking complex of Bechar to the Bechar/Oran railway line. In order to facilitate the transportation of products from this complex to the port of Arzew (Oran)
The Bechar-Tindouf railway corridor is described as a critical infrastructure for the conveyance of iron ore from the large Gâra Djebilet deposit. The rail should facilitate the transport of the resources extracted to the steel complex planned in Bechar whose output is aimed at the global market via the ore port of Arzew.
Furthermore, the lack of railway infrastructure limits the exploitation of the full potential of this mine. Which is currently operated on only 500 hectares out of an area of nearly 115,000 hectares declared for the project. According to Ahmed Benabbes, the building of railroads will make it possible to boost the steel unit’s production from the initial 500,000 tonnes to 10 million tonnes. It will also enhance the mobility of the region.
Project Fact Sheet
Name: Béchar–Tindouf–Gara Djebilet railway corridor.
Type: Railway construction and mining logistics infrastructure.
Location: Southwestern Algeria.
Railway length: Approximately 950km.
Wider western corridor: Approximately 1,650km from Oran to Gara Djebilet.
Main route: Béchar–Béni Abbès–Tindouf–Gara Djebilet.
Main purpose: Transport iron ore and provide passenger rail services.
Project agency: National Agency for Studies and Monitoring of Railway Investment Projects (ANESRIF).
Construction period: Completed within 30 months, according to ANESRIF.
Operational launch: February 1, 2026.
Railway stations: Seven new stations reported along the recently commissioned section.
Freight objective: Transport Gara Djebilet iron ore towards processing and industrial facilities.
Project cost: Not confirmed in the cited official project update.
Current status: Operational, with passenger services and iron ore transport launched.
Project Team
Government leadership: President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
Railway project agency: National Agency for Studies and Monitoring of Railway Investment Projects (ANESRIF).
Railway operator: Société Nationale des Transports Ferroviaires (SNTF).
Construction partners: A consortium involving China Railway Construction Corporation and Algerian companies, according to contemporary reporting.
Mining development: Gara Djebilet iron ore project.
Industrial destination: Iron and steel facilities in the Oran region.
Funding: Algeria financed the railway, according to contemporary reporting.
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