Rabat – Morocco has secured over $14 billion in financial commitments for a strategic railway project presented by the National Railways Office (ONCF).
The announcement was made on Friday by Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), during the closing press conference of the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) in Rabat.
The project, initially seeking $8.8 billion in funding, stood out as one of the major achievements of this year’s forum. Adesina noted the overwhelming support from investors, who recognized the project’s strategic importance for Morocco’s development.
The initiative has been unanimously praised by investors for its significance in advancing Morocco’s economic growth, Adesina said.
ONCF has outlined an ambitious expansion strategy as part of its 2040 roadmap aimed at modernizing and expanding Morocco’s rail network.
The key components of ONCF’s plan are to increase the country’s high-speed rail network (LGV) from the current 320 kilometers to over 1,280 kilometers by 2040. This includes extending the LGV line from Kenitra to Marrakech and eventually to Agadir.
ONCF also plans to develop a regional express network (RER) for metropolitan areas such as Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakech.
New developments include a 60-kilometer railway route connecting Oued Zem to Beni Mellal.
For its 2025-2027 investment plan, ONCF has announced a MAD 9.78 billion for acquiring new rolling stock, constructing maintenance workshops for train upkeep, and maintaining and modernizing existing infrastructure.
The company also aims to expand rail coverage so that 87% of Morocco’s population will have access to the upgraded network, up from the current 51%.
