TUNISIA – Chinese rolling stock manufacturer CRRC Nanjing Puzhen has secured two contracts worth a combined €128.2 million to supply new electric multiple units (EMUs) for passenger rail services in Tunisia, marking another significant step in the country’s ongoing railway modernisation programme.
The agreements cover new trains for both the Tunis–La Goulette–La Marsa (TGM) suburban railway and the Sahel suburban railway, with funding support from major European financial institutions.
18 New EMUs for the Historic TGM Line
The larger contract was awarded by Transtu, the operator of the Tunis Métro Léger light rail network and the Tunis–La Goulette–La Marsa (TGM) suburban railway. Signed on 10 July 2026, the agreement covers the supply of 18 modern electric multiple units, together with a five-year maintenance package, spare parts and depot equipment.
The contract is valued at €90 million and is jointly financed through a €45 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB), guaranteed by the European Union, and €45 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The contract signing ceremony took place in Tunis and was attended by representatives from Transtu, CRRC Nanjing Puzhen, the European Union, the EIB and the EBRD, highlighting the international cooperation behind the project.
The 18 km TGM line, which links central Tunis with the coastal suburbs of La Goulette and La Marsa, is one of Tunisia’s oldest suburban railway corridors and passes close to the internationally recognised archaeological sites of Carthage.
Each new train will be approximately 40 metres long, accommodating up to 400 passengers, including 90 seated passengers. Designed for a maximum operating speed of 100 km/h, the trains will feature air-conditioning, CCTV, passenger information systems and dedicated areas for passengers with reduced mobility.
Once introduced into service, the new fleet is expected to improve passenger comfort while enabling services to operate at six-minute intervals during peak periods, increasing capacity on one of the country’s busiest commuter routes.
SNCFT Orders Five Additional EMUs
In a separate contract signed on 30 June 2026, Tunisia’s national railway operator SNCFT placed an order worth €38.2 million for five electric multiple units to operate on the Moknine–Mahdia section of the metre-gauge Sahel suburban railway.
The electrified corridor operates on a 25 kV AC, 50 Hz power supply and forms part of a wider programme to modernise and double-track the route. Infrastructure improvements associated with the project are also being financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The first trainset under the SNCFT contract is scheduled to be delivered within two years of the agreement being signed.
Strengthening Sustainable Rail Transport
The two contracts represent a significant investment in Tunisia’s public transport network and support the country’s wider objective of improving railway reliability, passenger capacity and sustainable mobility.
For CRRC Nanjing Puzhen, the agreements further strengthen its international portfolio, while providing Tunisia with modern rolling stock designed to enhance both urban and regional passenger services.
Official Source (SNCFT):