Mohammedia – The Marrakech region hosted this past Thursday a high-level coordination meeting that aimed to review a major railway project in the Marrakech-Safi region. Wali Khatib El Hebil, the region’s Wali (governor) and Mohamed Rabie Khlie, Director General of Morocco’s National Railway Office (ONCF), chaired the meeting, which gathered senior ONCF executives, municipal and regional authorities, and heads of concerned public services.
Discussions focused on the technical, financial and logistical components of the project — notably the anticipated new stations and construction schedule, according to converging reports.
The ONCF is currently rolling out what it describes as the largest investment program in its history, aiming to modernize and expand Morocco’s railway infrastructure through 2030.
At the core of this strategy is the extension of the LGV Kenitra‑Marrakech high-speed line, which will add roughly 430 km of new, electrified, double-track railway — extending the existing high-speed corridor that connects Tangier to Kenitra.
With projections of completion around 2029, the new line is expected to cut travel time dramatically, notably by reducing the journey between Tangier and Marrakech to about 2 h 40.
To support this expansion, ONCF has ordered 168 new trainsets — including 18 high-speed trains capable of reaching 320 km/h, plus intercity and suburban rolling stock to modernize and enlarge the fleet.
The investment plan is part of a larger MAD 96 billion program combining track expansion, fleet renewal, and development of metropolitan and regional transport networks across several urban areas.
ONCF also aims, over time, to significantly expand the reach of rail transport in Morocco — targeting service coverage to dozens more cities and enlarging commuter access nationwide.
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Local coordination around a strategic rail project
Within this national framework, the Marrakech-Safi railway project discussed on Thursday marks a concrete step toward integrating the region into Morocco’s evolving rail network.
During the meeting, ONCF officials detailed the planned route, funding arrangements, implementation deadlines, and logistical arrangements — including communications, workforce mobilization, site management — as well as the design and construction of new stations along the route.
The delivery of this project will be in line with the highest quality standards, stressed ONCF Director General Mohamed Rabie Khlie, citing its strategic importance.
For his part, Wali Khatib El Hebil underlined the need to preserve Marrakech’s unique architectural character and urged strict compliance with safety, prevention, and traffic-management standards throughout construction. He also called for robust coordination between stakeholders to ensure that the project’s execution remains on schedule and respects commitments
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