The first passenger train between Tunis and the Algerian city of Annaba left Tunis station at 8.00am on Sunday morning, after three decades of inactivity.
Acting Transport Minister Sara Zaafrani Zanzari and her Algerian counterpart Mohamed Habib Zahana signalled the start of this first journey.
Around 80 Tunisian passengers boarded the train at Tunis station, in addition to Algerian and Tunisian passengers who will join the journey from other stations, said Taoufik Boufayed, chairman and CEO of the Tunisian National Railway Company (SNCFT).
The journey will take around seven hours from Tunis station, passing through the stations of Beja, Jendouba, Ghardimaou, Souk Ahras and Annaba in Algeria, a total distance of over 300 kilometers, he added.
The logistical preparations included the upgrading of the Ghardimaou station in Jendouba at a cost of around 60,000 dinars, he added.
For her part, the acting Minister of Transport welcomed, in a statement to the media, the reopening of this route between the two countries after it had been suspended since 1994, and called for efforts to ensure its continuity.
She pointed out that the Tunis-Annaba train will run three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (departing from Tunis), stressing that if the line proves its usefulness, the number of trips will be increased in the future.
According to a press release from the SNCFT, three weekly departures have been agreed.
The price of a one-way ticket has been set at 38 Tunisian dinars in economy class and 44 Tunisian dinars in first class.
The price of a return ticket in second class has been set at 71 Tunisian dinars and that of a return ticket in first class at 81 Tunisian dinars, subject to prior booking.
The SNCFT has declared that it offers free transport for children under 4 years of age and reduced fares for children between 4 and 12 years of age.
The capacity of the train on this route is around 300 passengers.
