The city of Tunis, Tunisia has expanded its Rapid Rail Network (RFR) with the inauguration of Line D.

The project management for this work, from design to completion, was overseen by engineering consultancy, SYSTRA.

Line D of the ‘Réseau Ferroviaire Rapide’ (RFR), the rapid rail network in Tunisia’s capital Tunis, was inaugurated on Saturday 25 January 2025

© SYSTRA

Line D connects the city centre of Tunis to the town of Gobâa, reducing travel time to approximately 15 minutes, significantly shorter than the previous bus journey. The new suburban link aims to ease congestion in the Tunisian capital and support efforts to lower emissions from road transport.

The line entered service following a testing phase that included 10 days of technical trials and 20 days of operational dry runs. The launch event was attended by Tunisian Minister of Transport Rachid Amri, French Ambassador Anne Guéguen, European Union Ambassador Giuseppe Perrone, and representatives from key financial contributors, including the French Development Agency (AFD), European Investment Bank (EIB), and German development bank KfW.

SYSTRA’s involvement in the RFR project has extended over 15 years, with the company providing expertise in project design, monitoring, and implementation. The organisation collaborated closely with local partner Studi to oversee construction and ensure adherence to planning and operational targets.

The introduction of Line D follows the commissioning of Line E in March 2023, extending the rail network to western suburbs such as Bardo, Mellassine, and La Manouba. The RFR project includes a total of 28 trains, with the network recording 7 million passengers on Line E in 2024. The new Line D is designed to accommodate over 20,000 passengers, with train capacities of up to 2,400 people per journey.

Future expansion of the network is under discussion, with financial negotiations underway for the development of Lines C and F. Once completed, the RFR network is projected to span 85 kilometres, enhancing connectivity across Greater Tunis.

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