Morocco Secures €205 Million Loan to Enhance Kenitra-Marrakech Rail Corridor
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has granted a substantial loan of €205 million to the Kingdom of Morocco aimed at bolstering the Kenitra-Marrakech rail corridor. This corridor is a critical component of Morocco's national railway network and serves as the foundational link for the upcoming high-speed rail line connecting the northern and southern regions of the country. The funding is strategically intended to enhance the capacity, reliability, and safety of this heavily utilized rail line, complementing ongoing investments made by the Moroccan government and the National Office of Railways (ONCF).
According to a joint statement from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the AfDB's representation in Rabat, this €205 million loan is part of the "Project to Increase Capacity of the Kenitra-Casa-Marrakech Rail Axis" (code P-MA-DC0-003). This project combines the modernization of existing infrastructures with preparations for transitioning to high-speed rail. Key initiatives within the plan include the doubling and tripling of certain rail sections, modernization of signaling systems, and upgrades to stations and technical facilities along the corridor.
The Kenitra-Marrakech Corridor: Backbone of Morocco's Future Rail Network
The Moroccan government has already committed to investing approximately 96 billion dirhams by 2030 to develop the country's railway infrastructure, which includes a dedicated budget for implementing high-speed rail between Kenitra and Marrakech as well as upgrading the regional rail network. This ambitious plan aims to expand the rail service to 43 cities by 2040, up from the current 23, thereby increasing the population coverage from 51% to 87%. Furthermore, it seeks to enhance connectivity between airports and ports through rail services. Within this framework, the Kenitra-Marrakech corridor will act as a vital spine, linking major economic hubs from Tangier to Agadir via Casablanca.
On the ground, the ONCF has already commenced significant construction work on the Casablanca-Marrakech and Casablanca-Kenitra lines, involving the doubling and tripling of tracks to accommodate demand that exceeds the capacity of the existing network. These projects are designed to streamline passenger and freight traffic, reduce travel times, and ensure reliable operations as the transition to high-speed rail progresses. The new AfDB loan further solidifies a financial framework already supported by state budget allocations, international loans, and contributions from various development partners.
In anticipation of the high-speed rail line between Kenitra and Marrakech, the ONCF is implementing a comprehensive infrastructure program that includes high-speed train stations, regional stations, technical centers, and maintenance facilities distributed across key locations such as Casablanca-Settat, Rabat-Salé-Kenitra, Marrakech, Fes, and Meknes. These facilities are crucial for enhancing the corridor's capacity and facilitating the integration of high-speed trains, regional services, and conventional rail networks.
The Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed rail project itself represents an extension of about 430 kilometers, with an estimated total cost nearing 53 billion dirhams (approximately €5 billion). It forms part of a national railway program valued at 96 billion dirhams to be completed by 2030, financed through a combination of public resources, institutional funding, and international support for specific aspects of the project. Civil engineering contracts are being allocated in various lots to a mix of Moroccan and international firms, while a separate tender focuses on acquiring 60,000 tons of rails to equip the new infrastructure. The corridor funded by the AfDB is directly aligned with this trajectory, securing short-term capacity and preventing bottleneck issues when the high-speed rail line becomes operational.
The Moroccan authorities emphasize that the Kenitra-Casablanca-Marrakech axis handles the majority of rail traffic and supports both intercity and regional passenger flows, as well as freight operations. Recent contracts awarded by the ONCF to enhance infrastructure between Casablanca and Nouaceur, which are integrated into the master plan for the Kenitra-Marrakech corridor, underscore the urgent need to rapidly increase the capacity of this vital rail line.
As reported by capmad.com.
