[ecr] "The train has reached the farthest point in the west of the country (Gara Djebilet) and the farthest point in the east (the phosphate mine in the province of Tébessa)," said Sayoud after listening to a detailed presentation on the transport sector at the headquarters of the Tramway Company (Setram) in the municipality of Sétif.

The minister also recalled that the phosphate mine in Bled El Hedba (Tébessa) will be connected by rail to the port of Annaba, and that of Gara Djebilet to the ports of Arzew, Oran, and Mostaganem.

He described these projects as "major," while acknowledging that "there are shortcomings on certain railway lines, which require upgrading operations for which the Algerian state has allocated the necessary funds, such as the rehabilitation of the old railway lines between Constantine and Algiers."

A total of DZD380 billion has been allocated to strengthening the Gara Djebilet-Oran and Bled El Hedba-Annaba lines using high-power locomotives and wagons specially designed for ore transport, he said.

Regarding the rehabilitation of the Constantine-Algiers railway line, the minister said that it aims "to enable trains to reach speeds of 100 to 160 km/h, which will save more than 3 hours of travel time and encourage citizens to use this mode of transport." [/ecr]