Tram systems in Sidi Bel Abbès
Sidi Bel Abbès (سيدي بلعباس in Arabic) is a city in northwestern Algeria and the capital of Sidi Bel Abbès province. It lies on the River Mekerra and takes its name from a Muslim holy man whose tomb is situated near the city centre. The city is a commercial centre for the surrounding agricultural region and is home to Djillali Liabès University.
Public transport in Sidi Bel Abbès includes trams and buses, with regional bus and coach services using terminals in the south, north and east of the city. All three terminals are served by the tramway. Rail services connect Sidi Bel Abbès with other cities in western Algeria, including Tlemcen.
Sidi Bel Abbès's modern tramway opened in July 2017. Its single line links Gare Routière Sud in the southwest with Les Cascades in the east, serving 22 stops. The route passes through the city centre and Sidi Djilali, with a northern circuit serving Gare Routière Nord, the new railway station area and the university campus.
SETRAM previously advertised alternating services, with every other tram taking a direct route between the termini and bypassing the northern circuit. We have been unable to verify whether this service pattern still operates.
A local development programme reported in April 2026 included plans to pursue completion of approximately 3.2 km of additional tramway to extend coverage within the city. The precise route, construction timetable and opening date have not been confirmed.
Sidi Bel Abbès currently has 1 tram line, details of which can be found on the Lines tab.
The tramway is operated and maintained by SETRAM, the company responsible for operating Algeria's tram networks.
The SETRAM Sidi Bel Abbès network information page provides information about the tramway.
Construction of the Sidi Bel Abbès tramway was formally launched on 22 June 2013. The project was overseen by Entreprise Métro d'Alger (EMA), with construction entrusted to the Turkish company Yapı Merkezi. It formed part of Algeria's wider programme to introduce modern tramways in its cities.
In December 2013, Alstom received an order for 30 Citadis trams, which were assembled by CITAL at its factory in Annaba. The vehicles were given a golden-yellow livery representing the wheat fields of the surrounding region. Initial tests took place over a 3.5 km section in July 2016, with further testing continuing into 2017 ahead of the opening.
The tramway was inaugurated on 25 July 2017 by the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Abdelghani Zaalane. The opening introduced a 22-stop route connecting Gare Routière Sud with Les Cascades, serving the city centre, northern neighbourhoods and university area.
Sidi Bel Abbès currently has 1 tram line, which is listed below. To see more information about a particular line, click on the link in the table below.
| Line | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Line 1 runs between Gare Routière Sud and Les Cascades via the city centre, Sidi Djilali and a northern circuit serving the university area. |
The Sidi Bel Abbès tramway uses standard-gauge track (1,435 mm) and is powered by 750 V DC overhead wires. The route combines reserved tram tracks alongside streets with dedicated sections away from the road network.
Trams receive priority at signal-controlled road junctions. The signalling contractor's project record identifies 55 junctions equipped with traffic signals and tram-priority arrangements.
A depot and maintenance complex is situated in the northern part of the city, near the new railway station area, with an access track connecting it to the passenger route.
The system was supplied with 30 Alstom Citadis 402 trams, assembled by CITAL in Annaba. These seven-section vehicles are approximately 44 metres long and have fully low floors. Alstom gives a capacity of 302 passengers per tram.
The trams are air-conditioned and provide space for wheelchairs and pushchairs, passenger information screens and CCTV.