Since 2020, the TIZI I gondola lift by POMA has been gliding over the dense infrastructure, narrow streets, and steep topography of the Algerian city of Tizi Ouzou.

The 2.4-kilometer 10-seater cable car connects the intermodal station (bus and train) with the university, the stadium, and the regional government headquarters. It links the neighborhoods of New City and M’douha to key transport hubs, thus providing sustainable and socially equitable mobility.

Second development phase

From the start, plans called for extending the cable car with two additional lines: first to the city hospital and finally to a mountain viewpoint. The first phase of this expansion is already becoming a reality: the French manufacturer POMA is currently building the TIZI II 10-seater gondola.

The new line runs from the M’douha district at 210 meters up to the Sidi-Belloua hospital plateau at 505 meters – a vertical difference of nearly 295 meters over a distance of 1.86 kilometers.

“The terrain profile shows a mix of densely built-up urban areas, road crossings, and a final forested slope before reaching the hospital complex. What used to be a 20-minute uphill drive through steep, congested streets will soon become a silent six-minute ride through the air,” reports Sebastien Martin, project manager at POMA.

Political goals

When selecting the route, the Algerian Ministry of Transport prioritized accessibility over geographic factors. By directly linking the city’s main hospital to the existing cable car, rail, and bus infrastructure, the new section transforms what was once a difficult, car-dependent ascent into a seamless and inclusive journey for everyone.

For the first time, residents of nearby towns and mountain villages will be able to reach specialized medical care without private transport. This forward-looking
decision goes beyond passenger numbers (two million annually):

it brings essential public services closer to the people, strengthens social inclusion, and redefines urban justice through mobility.

State financing

The project is entirely financed through the Algerian State budget under a multi-year program authorization. The delegated project management is ensured by the Entreprise du Métro d’Alger (EMA), a public operator in charge of implementing the Ministry of Public Works and Transport’s urban mobility policy.

EMA supervises the overall financing, procurement, and execution of the project on behalf of the State, ensuring transparency and long-term ownership.

“This public-investment model allows the infrastructure to remain fully integrated into Algeria’s national strategy for sustainable and accessible urban transport,” explains Martin.

Technical continuity

Like TIZI I, the new line is designed as a detachable 10-seater gondola, ensuring full interoperability and optimized maintenance within the existing network.

The stations function as local hubs and are designed to adopt the architectural language and accessibility standards of TIZI I, ensuring smooth passenger transfers and simplified operations for staff.

Operation secured through UPilot

TIZI II, like TIZI I, will be operated by ETAC – a joint venture between POMA and the state-owned TRANSTEV group. ETAC has been responsible for the operation, management, and maintenance of Algeria’s existing cable car network for ten years – including those in Tizi Ouzou.

And its record speaks for itself: 3.7 million passengers and no accidents. This achievement stems not only from technology but also from the people – technicians and operators – trained through POMA’s UPILOT system.

The digital platform combines simulation, maintenance training, and certification for the safe operation and upkeep of urban cable car systems.

Training with UPilot

Algeria has also established a robust legal framework through Decree No. 11-359, closely aligned with European standards and the STPG regulation for passenger cable car operations.

In accordance with this framework, the operator ETAC is developing a comprehensive Safety Management System (SGS) to structure procedures, risk control, and continuous improvement in daily operations.

Partnership overcomes challenges

Back in the construction phase, two major challenges stood out: the limited availability of land in densely populated urban areas and the complex economic context marked by successive financial and health crises between 2018 and 2021.

“Despite this, the strong and lasting partnership between POMA and EMA was able to move forward – a model for future urban cable cars in Algeria,” says Martin.

Third mountain cable car line

One such project is the third phase of Tizi Ouzou’s cable car network. From the hospital, another cable car is planned to improve mobility in the city’s hillside neighborhoods and give residents greater access to leisure activities. Implementation is expected in the coming years, once TIZI II goes into operation in spring 2026.