The Tunisian National Railways (Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer Tunisiens, SNCFT) has signed a TD167m ($73m) loan agreement with local banks for the funding of 20 locomotives procured in December last year from the US’ Progress Rail.

Attijari Bank will provide TD80m, while the rest will be provided by a consortium of banks comprised of Attijari, International Union Bank, the Arab Tunisian Bank, Bank of Tunisia, and the Tunisian Banking Corporation (STB), according to an International Railway Journal report on 20 February.

The first 10 locomotives are expected to be delivered in September 2018, with the rest to be delivered in December 2018.

The locomotives, which will be used to haul phosphate trains, belong to the GT42AC series manufactured by Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD), a subsidiary of Progress Rail.