The first railway in Tunisia was a standard gauge line opened in 1872 between Tunis and La Marsa, a distance of about 19km. The line is now the TGM suburban railway operated by Transtu.
The national network in the coastal region to the north of the country was developed in standard gauge, but a much larger network of metre gauge lines served the eastern coast and penetrated the interior. International connections with Algeria closed in the 1990s. One of these reopened in 2024.
Passenger trains serve the majority of major towns, with suburban services around Tunis and the Sahel. That in the Tunis area has been enhanced by a rapid rail commuter network, the first line of which opened in 2023.
© 2004-2026 Glyn Williams
Photo image: SNCFT