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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 Goullette (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 dinar (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.

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

s =  change at Sfax.

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.