King Mohammed VI on Wednesday presided over the launch of large-scale railway projects in the Casablanca metropolitan area worth MAD 20 billion ($2 billion), part of a wider MAD 96 billion ($9.6 billion) rail development program.
The new investments, unveiled in Hay Hassani, respond to the future mobility needs of Greater Casablanca while aligning with Morocco’s national strategy to promote sustainable, low-carbon transport.
They also complement a larger plan initiated by the monarch in April with the Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed rail (LGV) line – a 430-kilometer corridor set to become one of Africa’s most ambitious rail undertakings.
Three new-generation stations
The initiative includes the construction of three new-generation stations, ten additional metropolitan stations, the rehabilitation of five existing facilities, and the laying of 260 kilometers of new track.
It also involves building 50 engineering structures, two technicenters in Zenata and Nouaceur, five maintenance workshops, and acquiring 48 modern trainsets to strengthen metropolitan and regional services. Funding is shared between the National Railways Office – ONCF (70%) and the Casablanca region (30%).
One of the flagship projects is the new Casablanca-South station, whose construction began on Wednesday with an investment of MAD 700 million ($70 million).
Designed to host 12 million passengers annually, it will integrate six platforms and ten tracks to serve Al Boraq high-speed trains, long-distance routes, regional services, metropolitan shuttles, and a dedicated “aero-express” linking Casa-Port to Mohammed V International Airport every 15 minutes.
The site will cover 20,000 square meters with a parking capacity of 700 spaces and seamless connections to tram, BRT, bus, and taxi services, making it a strategic intermodal hub.
Two additional major stations will reinforce the network: the Hassan II Grand Stadium station in Benslimane, funded at MAD 450 million ($45 million) and capable of handling 12 million passengers annually, and a new Mohammed V International Airport station, financed at MAD 300 million ($30 million), with capacity for 5 million travelers.
Once operational, the two stations will serve major sporting and cultural events and provide direct connections to national and international transport flows. All three are expected to be delivered within 24 months.
Expanding metropolitan rail
The program also foresees a 92-kilometer metropolitan rail network designed to carry 150,000 passengers daily by 2030.
With trains running every 7.5 minutes, the system will link key urban and peri-urban hubs of Casablanca while ensuring direct access to strategic sites such as the new stadium and the international airport.
Ten new metropolitan stations, costing MAD 625 million ($62.5 million), will be built within 20 months in locations including Mohammedia-Les Facultés, Zenata, Sidi Bernoussi, Ain Sbâa, Hay Mohammadi, Ville Nouvelle, Mers Sultan, L’Oasis, Sidi Maârouf, and Nouaceur.
Existing stations will be modernized to align with the new service. Regional links will also be reinforced, with high-frequency shuttles to El Jadida and Settat operating every 30 minutes.
To meet demand, Morocco will purchase 48 trainsets from Hyundai Rotem at a cost of MAD 7 billion ($700 million). Each unit will carry more than 1,000 passengers and reach speeds of 160 km/h.
As part of the deal, the South Korean manufacturer will establish a production facility in Morocco, helping to create a domestic railway ecosystem and laying the groundwork for potential exports in the medium term.
Altogether, the program reflects King Mohammed VI’s long-term vision of a modern, integrated, and sustainable rail network. The projects are designed not only to improve transport efficiency and safety, but also to stimulate job creation, reinforce urban development, and reduce carbon emissions.
By 2030, the combination of metropolitan trains, regional services, and the Kenitra-Marrakech LGV is expected to deliver a transformative impact on national mobility, while positioning Morocco as a continental leader in sustainable transport ahead of major milestones such as the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
MWN with MAP
