Strategic Developments in Morocco's Rail Infrastructure
Amid significant transformations in Morocco's infrastructure and smart transport systems, the kingdom is witnessing an accelerated pace in the execution of strategic railway projects aimed at reshaping mobility and connecting major cities with modern networks that meet economic, demographic, and environmental shifts. Recently, the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdel Samad Khiou, announced that the new high-speed train line connecting Kenitra to Marrakech has reached an impressive completion rate of 30%. This milestone reflects substantial progress in one of Morocco's largest railway initiatives.
During a session of oral questions in the House of Representatives focused on the railway transport sector, the minister highlighted that the new high-speed train project is set to revolutionize travel times between Moroccan cities. It will create a modern network linking Rabat, Casablanca, Mohammed V Airport, and the Grand Stadium of Benslimane to Marrakech, adhering to standards of speed, efficiency, and sustainability. The government official emphasized that the ministry, in collaboration with the National Office of Railways (ONCF), is executing a massive investment program with a total cost estimated at 96 billion dirhams, which he described as the highest railway investment in Morocco over the past decade.
Modernizing Rail Transport for Enhanced Connectivity
This investment program includes the construction of a high-speed line stretching 430 kilometers between Kenitra and Marrakech, with a financial envelope of nearly 53 billion dirhams. Additionally, it involves the acquisition of 168 new trains and allocating 14 billion dirhams to enhance infrastructure related to the high-speed line, ensuring the continuity and efficiency of the existing railway network. The minister indicated that these projects will significantly reduce travel times between cities, with the journey from Tangier to Marrakech decreasing from approximately six and a half hours to just three and a half hours. Moreover, the travel time from Rabat to Tangier will be cut down to one hour, down from one hour and twenty minutes currently.
Furthermore, Rabat and Casablanca will experience a significant transformation in their rail connectivity with airports, with the travel time from central Rabat to Mohammed V Airport reduced to about 35 minutes via a new station, while the trip from the airport station to Marrakech will not exceed 55 minutes. Regarding the second phase of the high-speed train project to the south, the minister mentioned that technical and practical studies for the line connecting Marrakech to Agadir have been completed. However, he noted that this project faces complex engineering challenges due to the nature of the terrain in the High Atlas, particularly concerning the construction of tunnels and bridges, which will constitute approximately 70% of the project's engineering structure.
The ministry and ONCF are currently working on securing necessary international funding for this ambitious project, estimated to cost around 55 billion dirhams. In a related initiative, the minister revealed that the 'RER' suburban train project has also achieved a 30% completion rate. He considers this project a long-term vision to develop public transportation and alleviate traffic congestion in major cities while adhering to environmental standards and facilitating citizen mobility in the coming decades.
He explained that these trains will rely on modern stations of a new generation, noting that the Rabat-Kenitra-Skhira line will see trains operating at intervals of every ten minutes, which should help mitigate traffic congestion and enhance public transport offerings. Regarding traditional trains, Khiou confirmed that ONCF continues to implement a modernization program for the 'Atlas Trains' by acquiring and equipping new carriages for over 160 trains that will connect various cities from Oujda to Marrakech, aiming to improve service quality and elevate passenger comfort and safety.
Among parallel industrial projects, the minister announced the establishment of a new factory in Ben Guerir dedicated to the manufacturing and maintenance of railway locomotives, with a local integration rate of 62%. This initiative aims to develop a national railway industry with Moroccan competencies that can meet local market needs and open up for export opportunities in the future. Regarding service quality, the minister confirmed that the on-time performance of trains has exceeded 87%, while surveys indicate that customer satisfaction rates have surpassed 80%. He emphasized the ministry's openness to various proposals aimed at enhancing rail transport quality and service development.
These projects, according to observers, reflect a strategic direction towards building a modern and integrated transport system, positioning railways as a lever for economic development and regional integration, and a tool for reshaping the relationship between cities and time in the new Morocco.
As reported by kechpresse.com.
