SNTF
Encyclopedia
National company for rail transport (Arabic
: الشركة الوطنية للنّقل بالسّكك الحديدية, i.e. National company for rail transport, French
: Société Nationale des Transports Ferroviaires) is Algeria
's national railway operator. The SNTF, a state-owned company, currently has a monopoly
over Algeria's network of 3973 km (2,468.7 mi), even though it is currently exploiting only 3572 km (2,219.5 mi). Out of the total railway network, 2888 km (1,794.5 mi) are standard gauge
(283 km (175.8 mi) of these are electrified
) and 1085 km (674.2 mi) are narrow gauge
(as of 2008).
The history of the railway in Algeria starts with the colonization of the country
by France
. On April 8, 1857, a decree
orders the creation of 1357 km (843.2 mi) of railway, beginning with a standard gauge line going from Algiers
to Blida
, started on December 12, 1859. The private Compagnie des chemins de fer algériens starts working on that line with the help of the French army
on July 11, 1860. At the same time, the company got the permission to create a Oran
-Sig line and a Constantine
-Skikda
line, however, due to economic difficulties, only the Algiers-Blida line was finished, and opened to the public on September 8, 1862. Afterwards, 5 other companies start the creation of new lines, these are:
From 1857-1878, following lines (or parts of them) were finished, totalizing 1365 km (848.2 mi), which is greater than the initial expectations:
After 1879, France divided the railway lines being built of being of local interest or general interest, with only the latter being eligible to receive state funding. The July 18, 1879 decree defines the extent of some "general interest" lines and orders further 1747 km (1,085.5 mi) of railways to enhance the existing network. From 1879-1906, following lines (or parts of them) were finished, totalizing 2035 km (1,264.5 mi), which is; again; greater than the initial expectations:
In 1946, Algeria's total railway network contained a total of 5014 km (3,115.6 mi) of exploited lines, in addition to mine
lines; that is overall much more than the current network.
After a while, the private companies were unable to maintain economic stability, which led the French government to buy the Franco - Algérienne, Est Algérien, Bône-Guelma and Ouest Algérien in 1900, 1908, 1905 et 1920 respectively. On September 27, 1912, the state-owned Compagnie des Chemins de Fer Algériens de l'Etat (CFAE) takes over all lines, except those owned by the Compagnie Paris - Lyon - Méditerranée. On July 1, 1921, the CFAE and PLM agree to share the Algerian railway network with the PLM exploiting the Algiers-Oran, Oran-Aïn Témouchent, Sidi Bel Abbès-Tlemcen-Oujda
-Crampel, Blida-Hassi Bahbah lines (in other words, Western Algeria) while the CFAE gets the rest. On May 30, 1938, both companies become incorporated into the newly founded SNCF
, which handles all of France
's railway network, with the Algerian network becoming a région. On January 1, 1939, the Office des Chemins de fer Algériens (Office CFA) is created, to speliaze in the Algerian network. On June 30, 1959, an agreement is signed between the French government and the OCFA. On January 1, 1960 the Société des Chemins de Fer Français en Algérie is created as a result of the forementioned convention; until its replacement by the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Algériens (SNCFA) on June 16, 1963, a year after Algeria's independence
The June 30, 1959 convention is maintained after the country's independence until March 30, 1976, when the SNCFA split into the companies:
This reorganization was to ameliorate the railway network and services and Algeria, however, as this didn't work out, the two latter companies were reintegrated into the SNTF.
In 1980, a convention for the relations between the Algerian state and the SNTF was signed, officially called decree N° 88-128 of June 28, 1988, it is still used, and regulates; among other things; the salary
of the workers and the maintenance of the infrastructure. It has several similarities with the June 1959 convention. Since December 1990, the SNTF became a EPIC.
-Ramdane-Djamel line (140 km (87 mi)), the Béni Saf
area railway, especially for its cement
plant (23 km (14.3 mi)), and in the Saïda
(23 km) and Aïn Touta
area (15 km (9.3 mi)).
In addition to that, about 1400 km (869.9 mi) of track were renewed, both the track ballast
and the railroad tie
s, as well as the doubling of the tracks of the Rocade Nord in Algiers (about 200 km (124.3 mi)). Many train station
s all over the country were modernized, or even reconstructed, there were also many improvements to the railway, especially in the vincities of Algiers and Annaba.
A new, separate organisation, Anesrif
, has been created to manage infrastructure investment whilst SNTF concentrates on day-to-day operations. Anesrif has awarded a series of contracts to build new infrastructure and upgrade existing lines, including a the construction of a single-track line from Relizane
to Tiaret and Tissemsilt
; this forms part of the High Plateau line
.
:
(via the Souk Ahras
-Ghardimaou
line, among others) - same gauge Morocco
, The border with Morocco is closed, although Anesrif
has plans to build a railway up to the border. Libya - no Niger - no Mali
- no Mauritania - no
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
: الشركة الوطنية للنّقل بالسّكك الحديدية, i.e. National company for rail transport, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Société Nationale des Transports Ferroviaires) is Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
's national railway operator. The SNTF, a state-owned company, currently has a monopoly
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
over Algeria's network of 3973 km (2,468.7 mi), even though it is currently exploiting only 3572 km (2,219.5 mi). Out of the total railway network, 2888 km (1,794.5 mi) are standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
(283 km (175.8 mi) of these are electrified
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
) and 1085 km (674.2 mi) are narrow gauge
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
(as of 2008).
The beginnings
French Algeria
French Algeria lasted from 1830 to 1962, under a variety of governmental systems. From 1848 until independence, the whole Mediterranean region of Algeria was administered as an integral part of France, much like Corsica and Réunion are to this day. The vast arid interior of Algeria, like the rest...
by France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. On April 8, 1857, a decree
Decree
A decree is a rule of law issued by a head of state , according to certain procedures . It has the force of law...
orders the creation of 1357 km (843.2 mi) of railway, beginning with a standard gauge line going from Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
to Blida
Blida
Blida is a city in Algeria. It is the capital of Blida Province, and it is located about 45 km south-west of Algiers, the national capital. The name Blida, i.e...
, started on December 12, 1859. The private Compagnie des chemins de fer algériens starts working on that line with the help of the French army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
on July 11, 1860. At the same time, the company got the permission to create a Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
-Sig line and a Constantine
Constantine, Algeria
Constantine is the capital of Constantine Province in north-eastern Algeria. It was the capital of the same-named French département until 1962. Slightly inland, it is about 80 kilometres from the Mediterranean coast, on the banks of Rhumel river...
-Skikda
Skikda
Skikda is a city in north eastern Algeria and a port on the Gulf of Stora, the ancient Sinus Numidicus. It was known as Philippeville until the end of the Algerian War of Independence in 1962...
line, however, due to economic difficulties, only the Algiers-Blida line was finished, and opened to the public on September 8, 1862. Afterwards, 5 other companies start the creation of new lines, these are:
- La Compagnie BôneAnnabaAnnaba is a city in the northeastern corner of Algeria near the river Seybouse. It is located in Annaba Province. With a population of 257,359 , it is the fourth largest city in Algeria. It is a leading industrial centre in eastern Algeria....
- GuelmaGuelmaGuelma is the capital of Guelma Province and Guelma District, located in northeastern Algeria, about 65 kilometers from the Mediterranean coast...
(BG) - La Compagnie de l'Est Algérien (EA) (Eastern Algeria)
- La Compagnie Paris - Lyon - Méditerranée (PLM)
- La Compagnie de l'Ouest Algérien (OA) (Western Algeria)
- La Compagnie Franco - Algérienne (FA)
From 1857-1878, following lines (or parts of them) were finished, totalizing 1365 km (848.2 mi), which is greater than the initial expectations:
- Annaba - BerrahalBerrahalBarrahel is a town in northeastern Algeria....
- Annaba - Bouchegouf - Guelma
- El KhroubEl KhroubEl Khroub is a town and commune in Constantine Province, Algeria. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 89,919.-References:...
- Oued ZenatiOued ZenatiOued Zenati is a town and commune in Guelma Province, Algeria. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 27,254.-References:... - Constantine - SkikdaSkikdaSkikda is a city in north eastern Algeria and a port on the Gulf of Stora, the ancient Sinus Numidicus. It was known as Philippeville until the end of the Algerian War of Independence in 1962...
- Constantine - SétifSétifSétif |Colonia]]) is a town in northeastern Algeria. It is the capital of Sétif Province and it has a population of 239,195 inhabitants as of the 1998 census. Setif is located to the east of Algiers and is the second most important Wilaya after the country's capital. It is 1,096 meters above sea...
- Algiers - ThéniaThéniaThénia , with around 40,000 inhabitants, is the chief town in the daïra of the same name, in the wilaya of Boumerdès, in Kabylie in northern Algeria...
- Algiers - Oran
- ArzewArzewArzew or Arzeu is a port city in Algeria, from Oran. It is the capital of Arzew District, Oran Province.-Antiquity:Like the rest of North Africa, the site of modern-day Arzew was originally inhabited by the Berbers...
- La Macta - Mohammedia - Mohammadia - MécheriaMécheriaMécheria is a small city situated in Naâma Province, Algeria in the Atlas mountains, capital of Mécheria District.- Railway :Mecheria is served by a narrow gauge railway from Mohammedia, however, replacing it with a standard gauge line has been proposed....
- Oued TlélatOued TlélatOued Tlélat is a town and commune in Oran Province, Algeria. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 13289.-References:...
-Sidi Bel AbbèsSidi Bel AbbesSidi Bel-Abbes is capital of the Sidi Bel Abbès wilaya , Algeria. It is named after a Muslim holy man who is buried there. It is the commercial center of an important area of vineyards, market gardens, orchards, and grain fields. It is surrounded by a wall with four gates and there is a...
The nationalization
- Souk AhrasSouk AhrasSouk Ahras is a province in Algeria, named after its capital, Souk Ahras. It stands on the border between Algeria and Tunisia.- Geography :Souk Ahras is situated in the extreme north east of Algeria, it is 4360 km²....
-TébessaTébessaTébessa is the capital city of Tébessa Province, Algeria, 20 kilometers west from the border with Tunisia. Nearby is also a phosphate mine. The city is famous for the traditional Algerian carpets in the region, and is home to over 161,440 people.-History:...
-Le Kouif-TunisiaTunisiaTunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n border - Berrahal- Ramdane DjamelRamdane DjamelRamdane Djamel is a town and commune in Skikda Province in northeastern Algeria.-References:...
- Ouled Rahmoune-KhenchelaKhenchelaKhenchela ancient Mascula is the name of the capital city of the administrative Khenchela Province , number 40, in the north east of Algeria. Situated in the Aures Mountains, 1200 m above sea level. The city is mainly populated by Berber Chaouis....
- El Guerrah-BiskraBiskraBiskra is the capital city of Biskra province, Algeria. In 2007, its population was recorded as 207,987.During Roman times the town was called Vescera, though this may have been simply a Latin transliteration of the native name. Around 200 AD under Septimius Severus' reign, it was seized by the...
- Sétif-Thénia with further lines to include Tizi OuzouTizi OuzouTizi Ouzou is a city in Kabylia, Algeria, where it ranks second in population after Béjaïa. It is the capital and largest city of Tizi Ouzou Province and of Great Kabylia .-Etymology:The name comes from the Kabylian Berber Tizi n Uzezzu and is pronounced Tizuzzu, commonly...
, BéjaiaBéjaïaBéjaïa, Vgaiet or Bejaya is a Mediterranean port city on the Gulf of Béjaïa in Algeria; it is the capital of Béjaïa Province, Kabylia. Under French rule, it was formerly known under various European names, such as Budschaja in German, Bugia in Italian, and Bougie...
and Sour El Ghozlane - Blida-BerrouaghiaBerrouaghiaBerrouaghia is a town and commune in Médéa Province, Algeria. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 58,780.-References:...
- MostaganemMostaganemMostaganem is a port city in and capital of Mostaganem province, in the northwest of Algeria. The city, founded in the 11th century lies on the Gulf of Arzew, Mediterranean Sea and is 72 km ENE of Oran...
- RelizaneRelizaneRelizane is a capital town of Relizane Province, Algeria....
-Tiaret - Oran-Arzew
- Es SéniaEs SéniaEs Sénia is a municipality in Oran Province, Algeria. It is the seat of Es Sénia District. It contains a university as well as the international airport of Oran Es Sénia....
-Aïn TémouchentAïn Témouchent- References :... - Sidi Bel Abbès-TlemcenTlemcenTlemcen is a town in Northwestern Algeria, and the capital of the province of the same name. It is located inland in the center of a region known for its olive plantations and vineyards...
-MoroccanMoroccoMorocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
border - Tabia-Crampel
- Méchéria-BécharBécharBéchar , formerly known as Colomb-Béchar, is a capital city of Béchar Province, Algeria. The area is controlled by Algeria, though claims have also been made on it by Morocco. In 1998 the city had a population of 134,954....
- TiziTiziTizi is a town and commune in Mascara Province, Algeria. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 10,915.-References:...
-Mascara
In 1946, Algeria's total railway network contained a total of 5014 km (3,115.6 mi) of exploited lines, in addition to mine
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
lines; that is overall much more than the current network.
After a while, the private companies were unable to maintain economic stability, which led the French government to buy the Franco - Algérienne, Est Algérien, Bône-Guelma and Ouest Algérien in 1900, 1908, 1905 et 1920 respectively. On September 27, 1912, the state-owned Compagnie des Chemins de Fer Algériens de l'Etat (CFAE) takes over all lines, except those owned by the Compagnie Paris - Lyon - Méditerranée. On July 1, 1921, the CFAE and PLM agree to share the Algerian railway network with the PLM exploiting the Algiers-Oran, Oran-Aïn Témouchent, Sidi Bel Abbès-Tlemcen-Oujda
Oujda
Oujda is a city in eastern Morocco with an estimated population of 1 million. The city is located about 15 kilometers west of Algeria and about 60 kilometers south of the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the Oriental Region of Morocco and the birthplace of the current Algerian president,...
-Crampel, Blida-Hassi Bahbah lines (in other words, Western Algeria) while the CFAE gets the rest. On May 30, 1938, both companies become incorporated into the newly founded SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
, which handles all of France
Rail transport in France
Rail transport in France is mostly operated by SNCF, the French national railway company. France has the second largest European railway network, with a total of 29,901 kilometers of railway...
's railway network, with the Algerian network becoming a région. On January 1, 1939, the Office des Chemins de fer Algériens (Office CFA) is created, to speliaze in the Algerian network. On June 30, 1959, an agreement is signed between the French government and the OCFA. On January 1, 1960 the Société des Chemins de Fer Français en Algérie is created as a result of the forementioned convention; until its replacement by the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Algériens (SNCFA) on June 16, 1963, a year after Algeria's independence
Post-Independence
- SNTF, for the exploitation and maintenance of the lines;
- SNERIF, for the renewal and extension of the network;
- SIF, for the engineering and modernization of the infrastructure.
This reorganization was to ameliorate the railway network and services and Algeria, however, as this didn't work out, the two latter companies were reintegrated into the SNTF.
In 1980, a convention for the relations between the Algerian state and the SNTF was signed, officially called decree N° 88-128 of June 28, 1988, it is still used, and regulates; among other things; the salary
Salary
A salary is a form of periodic payment from an employer to an employee, which may be specified in an employment contract. It is contrasted with piece wages, where each job, hour or other unit is paid separately, rather than on a periodic basis....
of the workers and the maintenance of the infrastructure. It has several similarities with the June 1959 convention. Since December 1990, the SNTF became a EPIC.
Recent investments
Large investment programs were launched after 1980 to ameliorate the Algerian railway network, such as the creation of the JijelJijel
Jijel is the capital of Jijel Province in northeastern Algeria. It is flanked by the Mediterranean Sea in the region of Corniche Jijelienne, and has an estimated population of 148,000 inhabitants .Jijel is the administrative and trade centre for a region specializing in cork processing, leather...
-Ramdane-Djamel line (140 km (87 mi)), the Béni Saf
Béni Saf
Beni Saf is a town in northwestern Algeria, about 80 kilometers southwest of Oran. The town was founded in 1876 as a shipping port for iron ore, which is mined just south of the town. Other products of the town include zinc, marble and onyx, and the fishing industry is extensive.- Sources :...
area railway, especially for its cement
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
plant (23 km (14.3 mi)), and in the Saïda
Saida, Algeria
-Location:Saïda is located in northwestern Algeria, on the southern slopes of the Tell Atlas mountain range situated on the northern fringe of the High Plateaus...
(23 km) and Aïn Touta
Aïn Touta
Aïn Touta is a town situated in the east of Algeria. It is located 35 km southwest of Batna and 82 km north of Biskra. It has an area of about five square kilometers ....
area (15 km (9.3 mi)).
In addition to that, about 1400 km (869.9 mi) of track were renewed, both the track ballast
Track ballast
Track ballast forms the trackbed upon which railway sleepers or railroad ties are laid. It is packed between, below, and around the ties. It is used to facilitate drainage of water, to distribute the load from the railroad ties, and also to keep down vegetation that might interfere with the track...
and the railroad tie
Railroad tie
A railroad tie/railway tie , or railway sleeper is a rectangular item used to support the rails in railroad tracks...
s, as well as the doubling of the tracks of the Rocade Nord in Algiers (about 200 km (124.3 mi)). Many train station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
s all over the country were modernized, or even reconstructed, there were also many improvements to the railway, especially in the vincities of Algiers and Annaba.
A new, separate organisation, Anesrif
Anesrif
Anesrif is a transport business created by the government of Algeria, to expand and modernise the Algerian railway system.-Name:Anesrif's full name, in French, is Agence nationale d’études et de suivi de la réalisation des investissements ferroviaires...
, has been created to manage infrastructure investment whilst SNTF concentrates on day-to-day operations. Anesrif has awarded a series of contracts to build new infrastructure and upgrade existing lines, including a the construction of a single-track line from Relizane
Relizane
Relizane is a capital town of Relizane Province, Algeria....
to Tiaret and Tissemsilt
Tissemsilt
Tissemsilt is a municipality in Algeria. It is the capital of Tissemsilt Province and Tissemsilt District....
; this forms part of the High Plateau line
High Plateau line
The High Plateau line is network of railway lines under construction across Algeria. The project is managed by Anesrif.-Route:The route runs 1200 km from Tebessa in the east to Moulay Slissen in the west, via Tiaret and M'Sila, through a sparsely populated area bordering the Atlas mountains...
.
Subsidiaries
SNTF has nine subsidiariesSubsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
:
- RAIL EXPRESS
- STIM
- INFRARAIL
- RAIL ELECTR
- SETIRAIL
- RAIL TRANSIT
- RESTAURAIL
- RAIL PUB AFFICHAGE
- RAIL TELECOM
Material
SNTF has:- 222 Locomotives
- 9.855 Railroad carRailroad carA railroad car or railway vehicle , also known as a bogie in Indian English, is a vehicle on a rail transport system that is used for the carrying of cargo or passengers. Cars can be coupled together into a train and hauled by one or more locomotives...
s - 440 Passenger cars
Railway links to adjacent countries
TunisiaRail transport in Tunisia
Rail Transport in Tunisia is provided by:* Tunisian Railways * Société des transports de Tunis, manages commuter trains of the Tunis area including metro light rail and TGM* Lézard rouge, a historical tourist train...
(via the Souk Ahras
Souk Ahras
Souk Ahras is a province in Algeria, named after its capital, Souk Ahras. It stands on the border between Algeria and Tunisia.- Geography :Souk Ahras is situated in the extreme north east of Algeria, it is 4360 km²....
-Ghardimaou
Ghardimaou
Ghardimaou is a town in the north-west of Tunisia about 192 km from Tunis. It belongs to the Jendouba Governorate. The town has about 70,000 inhabitants Ghardimaou is a town in the north-west of Tunisia about 192 km from Tunis. It belongs to the Jendouba Governorate. The town has...
line, among others) - same gauge Morocco
Rail transport in Morocco
Rail transport in Morocco is operated by the ONCF. It is the continent's second most developed rail transport system, after South Africa's.-Main connections:...
, The border with Morocco is closed, although Anesrif
Anesrif
Anesrif is a transport business created by the government of Algeria, to expand and modernise the Algerian railway system.-Name:Anesrif's full name, in French, is Agence nationale d’études et de suivi de la réalisation des investissements ferroviaires...
has plans to build a railway up to the border. Libya - no Niger - no Mali
Rail transport in Mali
Mali has only one railway, the Dakar-Niger Railway, which includes 729 kilometers in Mali and runs from the port of Koulikoro via Bamako to the border with Senegal and continues on to Dakar...
- no Mauritania - no
Affiliations
SNTF is a member of the following organizations:- International Union of RailwaysInternational Union of RailwaysThe UIC , or International Union of Railways, is an international rail transport industry body.- Brief history :The railways of Europe originated as separate concerns. There were many border changes after World War I and the Treaty of Versailles. Colonial railways were the responsibility of the...
(UIC) - Arab Union of Railways
- Comité du Transport Ferroviaire Maghrebin (CTFM) (The seats of this organization are in Algeria)
- African Union of RailwaysAfrican Union of RailwaysThe African Union of Railways in an organisation under the auspices of the new African Union dealing with railways. It is similar to the International Union of Railways .- Overview :...