Morocco on Track to Shake-Up Railway Network

Rabat — The Moroccan government has announced a massive railway upgrade after Transport Minister Abdessamad Kayouh revealed on Monday plans to invest a whopping MAD 87 billion ($8.7 billion) to bring up-to-date the railway network.

In 2024, trains have so far carried 53 million passengers, and the number is set to hit 55 million by the year’s end. Of these, 5 million used the Al-Boraq high-speed train connecting Casablanca to Tangier.

Kayouh said the high-speed rail linking Kenitra to Marrakech via Casablanca Airport is almost done. Journeys to Marrakech will only take 2 hours 45 minutes by 2029, down from 7 hours. Another line connecting Marrakech to Agadir could be ready as soon as mid-2025.

Morocco’s National Railways Office (ONCF) plans to spend nearly MAD 10 billion ($1 billion) from 2025 to 2027 to buy new trains, maintain current ones, and build new workshops.

Meanwhile, train trips are booming. Al-Boraq carried 5.2 million passengers in 2023, a quarter more from 2022. Total passenger numbers rose to 53 million, more than a tenth increase from the year before.

Freight is going strong too, with 17 million tonnes carried in 2023, half of which was phosphate.

Revenues reached MAD 4.35 billion ($430 million) in 2023, a 7% increase. This year, income is expected to grow 8%, hitting nearly MAD 5 billion ($500 million).

At the same time, Casablanca will get three new stations: Casa-South, Casablanca Grand Stadium, and Casablanca Airport.

These stations aim to link with other means of transport, including trams and buses to reduce traffic chaos in the country’s economic hub. Plus, new stations are also planned for areas like Sidi Bernoussi and Hay Hassani, with work starting soon.

Overall, Morocco plans to overhaul the transport sector to help people ditch their diesel cars for cleaner energy and smoother travel.