Train travel in Tunisia . . .

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Above:  An air-conditioned rapide at Sfax.

he Tunisian Railways (SNCFT) are easily the best way to travel between Tunis, Sousse, El Jem, Sfax and Gabès.  There is also a branch line from Sousse to Monastir and Mahdia, and several other routes.  Trains are comfortable, modern and air-conditioned.

On this page...

Tunis-Carthage-Marsa

Tunis-Sousse-Monastir-El Jem-Sfax-Gabès

Bizerte, Kalaâ Kasbah, Kairouan

Fares

Lézard Rouge tourist train

International links

On other pages...

London to Tunisia by train+ferry in just 48 hours

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Tunis to Carthage & Marsa

There is a light railway (run by SMLT) linking Tunis centre, La Goulette (for the ferry terminal to Marseille and Genoa), Carthage (for the ancient ruins & Byrsa Hill) and Marsa Plage.  Departures are at frequent intervals from 04:00-00:50 and the fare about 0.7 dinars (UK £0.35).

Tunis to Sousse, Sfax, Gabès, Tozeur

Tunisian trains have 3 classes of accommodation:  2nd class, 1st class and 'classe confort', although new railcars delivered in 2008 have just one class, called 'Express'.  2nd class is perfectly adequate, 1st class very comfortable.  'Classe confort' is very similar to 1st class, but with even more space.  The overnight trains have no sleeping berths, just seats.  You can double-check times at the official SNCFT website, www.sncft.com.tn (in French, as the English version is 'under construction').

Sousse Kalaâ Séghira station is 8km west of Sousse and is easily reached from the town centre by louage (shared taxi).

x =  regular electric trains link Sousse (Sousse Bab Jedid station, 500m from Sousse Ville) with Monastir & Mahdia every hour or so throughout the day.

C12 = 1st & 2nd class plus Classe Confort.  E = Express class in new fast railcar.

	Above:  'Classe confort' seating on a Tunisian rapide.  I have to confess that the feet on the seat in front are mine...  More pictures of what Tunisian express trains are like (Japanese website).

Tunis ► Bizerte

98km, journey 1 hour 35 minutes, 2nd class only.  Departures from Tunis at 05:55 (Mon-Fri only), 11:55, 14:30 (Fri & Sat only), 16:10 (daily except Fri & Sat), 18:25.  Departures from Bizerte at 05:40 (Mon-Fri only), 08:20, 14:15, 18:35.  See www.sncft.com.tn.

Tunis ► Kalaâ Kasbah

Trains leave Tunis at 06:02 and 14:15 arriving at Kalaâ Kasbah at 11:05 and 19:11 respectively.  Returning, trains leave Kalaâ Kasbah at 05:45 and 12:45 arriving Tunis at 10:32 & 17:35 respectively.  See www.sncft.com.tn.

Kairouan

There is no railway station at Kairouan, but regular SNTRI buses run from Sousse to Kairouan taking 1½ hours, and from Tunis to Kairouan every hour taking 2¼ hours.  There are also shared taxis ('louages') from Sousse to Kairouan about every 30 minutes throughout the day.

How to check Tunisian train times:

Tunisian railways has an official website at www.sncft.com.tn.  It's easy to book Tunisian rail tickets at the main station in central Tunis - bookings only open 3 days in advance, so don't worry about pre-booking before you get to Tunisia.

Children aged 0 to 3 travel free, children 4 to 9 travel at 75% of the adult fare, children 10 and over pay full fare.

10-day return tickets carry a discount of 15% over the cost of two one-way tickets.

Railpasses: 'Carte Bleue'

Tunisian Railways offer an excellent 'Carte Bleue' railpass for 7, 15 or 21 days for unlimited travel in 1st class, 2nd class or 'classe confort'.  Prices for a 7-day pass are around 30 dinars (£14) 2nd class, 42 dinar (£20) 1st class, 45 dinar (£21) classe confort.  Prices for a 15-day pass are twice the 7-day price, 21-day prices are three times the 7-day price.  Although the pass gives you unlimited travel, you still need to pay a small air-conditioning supplement for travel on any air-conditioned train, which means almost all the long-distance ones.  In 2nd class the supplement is 0.7 dinar for up to 100km, 0.9 dinar for 101-160km, 1.4 dinar for 161-300km and 1.8 dinar for over 300km.  Just pay this supplement at the ticket office before making each journey using the pass.

Carte Bleue railpasses can be bought at Tunisian railway stations.  Officially, you need a passport-sized photo to buy these railpasses, but reports suggest that a passport is sufficient as they then write your passport number over the photo square.  Feedback is always appreciated.  The pass covers all mainline SNCFT trains, but not the Tunis-Carthage light railway or the Tunis tram system.

Lézard Rouge tourist train...

A privately-run tourist train called the Lézard Rouge runs from Metlaoui to the Gorges de Selja, a 40 minute, 43 km ride through spectacular scenery.  It runs from 1 May to 30 September, daily except Saturdays, departing Metlaoui at 10:00 on Tues, Thurs & Sun or 10:30 on Mon, Wed & Fri, arriving at Gorges de Selja 40 minutes later, departing Gorges de Selja after a 20 minute stop and arriving Metlaoui 45 minutes later, total trip length around 1 hour 45 minutes.  The fare is 20 dinar for adults, 12.50 dinars for children under 10, children under 4 free.  You can confirm this information, but currently only in French, at www.sncft.com.tn - click 'Français' to select their French language version, then look for 'tourisme' then 'trains touristiques'.  More pictures of the Lézard Rouge train (Japanese website).

Note:  In October 2009, flooding destroyed the railway line through the Selja Gorge used by the Lézard Rouge. However, the Lézard Rouge is now up and running again.

Ferries to Europe...

Comfortable ferry liners link Tunis with Marseille & Genoa (several weekly) and Sicily (once per week).  See the London to Tunisia page.

To Algeria & Morocco...

Although the French colonial government built a railway from Tunis through Algeria to Morocco, it no longer operates across the borders, only within each country.  Algeria is generally unsafe for western visitors and non-essential travel to Algeria is not advisable - see www.fco.gov.uk for travel advice.  The border between Algeria & Morocco is currently closed, so it's not possible to travel overland between Tunisia and Morocco.

To Libya & Egypt...

Although the border is open and there are bus services (but no trains) across Libya from the Tunisian border to the Egyptian border, the Libyan government does not grant visas to independent travellers, only to visitors on organised tours or whose travel is organised by a recognised Libyan tour agency.

You should take a good guidebook.  For the independent traveller this means either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide.  I personally prefer the layout of the Lonely Planets, but others prefer the Rough Guides.  Both provide an excellent level of practical information and historical background.  You won't regret buying one..!

Lonely Planet Tunisia

Rough Guide to Tunisia

Lonely Planet North Africa

The North Africa guide is less detailed and older (1995) than the guide for Tunisia, but it covers Morocco, Libya and Egypt as well as Tunisia.

The Thomas Cook European Timetable has train, bus and ferry times for every country in Europe, including European Turkey from Istanbul westwards.

The Thomas Cook Overseas Timetable is probably the most adventurous timetable ever produced... It has train, bus and ferry times for every country in the world outside Europe, including Asian Turkey from Istanbul eastwards.

These timetables are essential for any serious overland traveller, and an inspiration for armchair travellers!  Each timetable costs £13.99 from the bureau de change section of any branch of Thomas Cook, or you can buy online at www.thomascooktimetables.com.