Algiers Metro Information
The inauguration of the Algiers metro took place on 31 October 2011, after almost three decades of development of the network. It is the first metro in the Algerian capital and only the second African city to have this form of public transport. Originally 9.2 kilometres long with 10 stations, the Algiers metro was extended by 4 kilometres, resulting in the opening of 4 additional stations. At present, it extends over 13.5 kilometres with 14 stations. The Algiers metro boasts an annual ridership of almost 16,000,000. Currently with only one line, there are plans to extend line 1 and two more lines by 2017.
Algiers Metro Map
Map of Algiers Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Algiers Metro map in PDF format.
Algiers metro map
Known for its efficiency and comfort, the Algiers metro is an important part of the city’s transport system. The system is managed by the Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP) – El Djazaïr.
The carriages are air-conditioned for passenger comfort. The entire station infrastructure is designed to allow passengers to move easily between platforms. However, it should be noted that the metro is not equipped with autonomous drivers and platform screen doors.
The metro’s operating hours cover most of the day, from five in the morning to eleven at night, giving passengers plenty of time to travel around the city. Trains travel at up to 70 km/h, allowing for fast travel on a variety of routes.
The fare is €1.40, making it affordable for most residents and visitors to the city.
For more information, visit the official Algiers Metro website.
Lines and stations
The Algiers metro system currently consists of a single functional line, with an additional line under development. The operational line consists of fourteen stations over a distance of approximately 13.5 kilometres. This metro line serves seven municipalities within Algiers, stretching from the centre of the city to El Harrach, following the coastline. Of the first ten stations inaugurated, nine are entirely underground, with only the Hai El Badr terminal being a surface station.
Each station has mainly two main tracks separated by double platforms, each 115 metres long. However, Hai El Badr station stands out as it has three platforms for train access. The majority of the stations have been built to universal accessibility standards, ensuring independent use by passengers. They include Tafourah – Grande Poste and Khelifa Boukhalfa in the centre of Algiers, 1st Mai and Aissat Idir in the commune of Sidi M’Hamed, Hamma and Jardin d’Essai in the commune of Belouizdad, Le Fusilles, Cite Amirouche, Cite Mer et Soleil in Hussein Dey, Hai El Badr in El Magharia, Bachdjarah – Tennis and Bachdjarah in the commune of Bachdjarah, El Harrach Gare in Bourouba and finally the El Harrach Centre station in El Harrach.
La Grande Poste Station
La Grande Poste is centrally located in Algiers and serves as a hub for all major city routes leading to key locations such as Place des Martyres, Audin Place, Algiers University, Tafourah Bus Station and the Wilaya of Algiers. Due to its location at the beginning of the route and its proximity to many tourist attractions, it has the highest passenger throughput. Future plans include a direct link to the Algiers metro line 2.
Khelifa Boukhalfa station
Khelifa Boukhalfa station leads to the commercial district of Algiers, which includes Mourad Didouche Street, Cinema Algeria and Victor Hugo Street. Other major sites in this area include Hassiba Ben Bouali, Meissonier Market, the Sacred Heart and Liberty Park.
May 1st Station
Located in Mokrani, this station is connected to the bus and taxi network (ETUSA) and serves the Mustapha Bacha Hospital and the Mohamed Belouizdad (Belcourt) district, one of the oldest in the city.
Idir Aissat station
Located in the heart of Belcourt, Aissat Idir station is close to the Maison de la Presse, several bus stops, Telecom Algeria and the UGTA headquarters. It is strategically located to reduce congestion on the road network.
Hamma / Jardin d’Essais stations
Hamma and Jardin d’Essais stations serve the areas around the National Library of Hamma, Sofitel Algiers, Jardin d’Essais and the Pasteur Institute.
Les Fusillés station
Accessible from many areas (Brook, Kouba, Hussein Dey and Bir Mourad Rais), this station is set to become a major transport hub where metro lines, trams, buses, taxis and funiculars converge.
Amirouche station
Located at the intersection of the Hussein Dey and Kouba districts.
Sun and sea station
Mer et Solei station, at the western end of line 1, is located in the heart of the Mer et Soleil residential area, near Hussein Dey.
Hai El Badr station
Located in the Hai El Badr district, this station serves the Panorama, Hussein Dey, Ben Omar, El Kouba Cadat and Bachdjarah areas. It provides a link between the suburbs of Algiers and offers a fast and comfortable means of urban transport.
Connections with other systems
A recent addition, the Algiers metro is not yet fully integrated with the other transport systems. Despite this, Algiers is moving towards a Parisian-style transport system, facilitated by direct French intervention through the operator, RATP.
In addition to Algiers’ metro system, the city has a modern 16.2km trolley system. It runs from the eastern edge of the Bay of Algiers to the western edge, where it remains the only functioning mass transport system.
A key link to the Algiers metro is at Les Fusilles station, which connects to the Ruisseau trolley station. Operated by the RATP, there are ticketing systems compatible with both the metro and the trolley, a convenience for those commuting across the city.
Les Fusilles station also connects to a more niche system – the cable car. Present only in certain areas of Algiers, the cable car is one of the oldest means of transport in the city, dating back to 1956. There are five cableway lines in Algiers: Madania, Memorial, Palace of Culture, Notre Dame of Africa and Triolet. In addition, Bab El Oued is under construction and two more lines are planned. The Madania and Memorial are close to each other on the metro line, while The Culture Palace connects to Les Fusilles.
Perhaps the busiest connection is the nearby RER trains. Run by the Societe Nationale des Transports Ferroviaires (SNTF), these trains link the city with the suburbs. While most of the system runs parallel to the Algiers metro line without any connections, it does intersect with the Algiers Trolley. In particular, the new station called El Harrach Gare provides a link to the nearby SNTF system, which branches off in two directions: east and south.
Finally, as in any city, we can’t forget the bus system. The Entreprise de Transport Urbain et Suburbain (ETUSA) operates more than a hundred lines, as well as several public lifts.
Airport Connections
The Algiers metro system serves key areas of the city that are teeming with population and tourist attractions. Many passengers wonder about the best route from the airport to the Algiers metro. There is currently no direct connection.
However, work is underway to extend Line 1 to Houari Boumediene Airport. The SNTF is also planning a new branch line that will serve the airport directly from Bab Ezzouar and Dar El Beida stations. Currently, the most convenient way to reach the Algiers metro from the airport is by bus and trolley. The ETUSA bus line 100 leaves the airport every half hour for Cite 8 May 1945, which has a trolley station. This system allows passengers to continue their journey on the Algiers metro.
Operating Hours and Frequency
The capital of Algeria needed a transport system that would operate for most of the day, and the Algiers metro has delivered. The metro operates seven days a week, from 5am to 11pm. The timetable is shortened during the holy month of Ramadan, when the metro runs from 7am to 1.30pm. The frequency of trains depends on the time of day and the number of passengers. At peak times, the waiting time is around 3 minutes and 20 seconds, rising to 5 minutes at off-peak times. The system has a capacity of 25,000 passengers per hour, although the actual number is usually much lower. For many tourists, the Algiers metro is a useful tool given its relative lack of congestion.
Fees, Tickets, and Cards
Fares on the Algiers metro have changed over time. A single trip costs around 50 dinars ($0.45 USD), while a ten-ride ticket costs 400 dinars ($3.68 USD). Since 2012, the ticketing system has been unified across the different modes of transport in Algiers, particularly the metro and trolleys. This unification allows passengers to transfer between the two systems using the same ticket. A universal fare costs 70 dinars ($0.64) and a ten-ride ticket costs 600 dinars ($5.51). There’s also a monthly payment option for residents and long-term tourists that covers the metro and trolley for 2500 dinars ($23 USD). This monthly pass comes in the form of reloadable cards. There are also discounts for students, with a monthly fee of 700 dinars ($6.44 USD) for university students, reduced to 400 dinars ($3.38 USD) for junior high school students and younger. The combined student fare for metro and trolley is 1000 dinars ($9.19 USD) per month.
System Regulations
Every transport system has rules that allow for an optimal relationship between passengers and the means of transport, offering mutual benefits. The operators of the Algiers metro ensure that these rules are respected. Some of the rules are: every passenger must have a valid ticket, which is available at the station ticket offices and machines. Order is expected on all carriages and platforms, and disrespectful behaviour towards other passengers or metro staff is prohibited. Listening to music at high volume without headphones, which may disturb other passengers, is also forbidden. Animals are not permitted on the Underground, with the exception of companion animals or small pets that can be carried in purses or baskets by their owners.
Future Expansions
Construction of the Algiers metro is progressing well. The original project envisaged a larger system than currently exists, so expansion is a certainty. In 2015, the second phase of Line 1 of the Algiers metro was inaugurated, with four additional stations extending the system to El Harrach Centre. By 2020, the third phase of this line is due to be unveiled, adding a further nine stations and ending at
stations and terminate at Houari Boumediene International Airport. Other extensions are also under construction, including a southern section of four stations between the existing Hai El Badr and Bachdjarah – Tennis stations. The most remarkable aspect of the Algiers metro extension is that most of it is already under construction. There are also future plans for an elevated metro system from Hai El Badr to Chevalley.
Advice
Safety should always come first. The Algiers metro is no different. At peak times, it can be overcrowded, creating an ideal environment for pickpockets. It is highly recommended to keep personal belongings in front pockets and to hold purses in front. There can be a significant language barrier for tourists. Arabic is the national language of Algeria, so metro users should be able to understand standard Arabic. French is also widely spoken due to Algeria’s past as a French colony, and some English can also be heard. Tourists are advised to be patient and use a language they understand.
To avoid suspicion of terrorism, metro users should carry their own bags, rucksacks and purses. Any abandoned bag could be considered a threat and trigger an alarm within the subway system.
Interesting Facts
- The Algiers metro is the second metro system in Africa, after the Cairo metro in Egypt, which opened to the public in 1987.
- It is the first metro system planned in the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. The Oran metro, which is currently under construction, will open to the public in 2020.
- Archaeological treasures dating back to the Roman Empire have been uncovered during excavations, including a public building and a Byzantine necropolis dating back to the 7th century. Parts of the Es Sayida mosque, built by the Ottoman Empire and destroyed during French colonisation in the 19th century, were also discovered.
Sightseeing from the Algiers Subway
The Algiers metro, which runs from the city centre along the Mediterranean bay, is ideal for tourists wishing to explore the city. Some of the main attractions accessible by metro are the Grande Poste Plaza, D’Essai Gardens, the Monument to the Martyrs and Boulevard Zighout Youcef.
Algiers Metro Pictures
