Algeria is preparing to launch the construction of the primary sections of the 2,036-kilometer railway line connecting the capital to Tamanrasset. Supported by a $14.6 billion budget allocated in the 2027 finance bill, including backing from the African Development Bank, the project is a major strategic priority. While the line from Algiers to Laghouat is complete, works for the subsequent stages towards Ghardaïa and El Ménéa are set to commence. The Wali of El Ménéa has conducted field inspections to verify the logistics and technical readiness of the site. A consortium of Algerian and Chinese firms will lead the construction, aiming to replicate the rapid completion of the Béchar-Tindouf line. The government aims for the railway to reach the southern city of Tamanrasset by the end of 2028.