60 Minutes Highlights Morocco's High-Speed Rail Success
On April 5, 2026, the renowned American news program 60 Minutes aired a report that positioned Morocco's high-speed train, Al Boraq, as a global benchmark of technical achievement, starkly contrasting it with the United States' ongoing struggles to develop its own high-speed rail network. Journalist Jon Wertheim delivered a compelling analysis, noting that the California high-speed rail project, initiated in 2008, has been mired in staggering budget overruns totaling $126 billion, without a single rail laid as of 2026. In sharp contrast, Morocco has emerged as a source of pride for Africa. Lou Thompson, co-founder of Amtrak, succinctly summarized the situation, stating, "They decided to do it and pay for it; we did not."
Inaugurated in 2018, the Al Boraq service connects Tangier to Casablanca in just 2 hours and 10 minutes, a drastic improvement from the previous travel time of 4 hours and 45 minutes, achieving speeds of up to 320 km/h on the Tangier-Kénitra segment. According to figures released by the National Office of Railways (ONCF) on April 9, 2026, the service transported 5.6 million passengers in 2025, marking a 3% increase from the previous year, and generated a revenue of 848 million dirhams. The kingdom is not resting on its laurels; construction of an extension from Kénitra to Marrakech, spanning 430 km, officially began on April 24, 2025. This ambitious 53 billion dirham project promises to connect Tangier to Marrakech in just 2 hours and 40 minutes, facilitating access to the airports of Rabat and Casablanca.
The Future of High-Speed Rail in Morocco
To support this extensive development, the ONCF has ordered 168 new trains, including 18 high-speed units from the French manufacturer Alstom. This comprehensive investment program, amounting to 96 billion dirhams, is progressing on schedule, firmly establishing Morocco as the undisputed leader in high-speed rail on the African continent. Minister of Transport Abdessamad Kayouh unveiled the future of Moroccan rail, revealing plans for the high-speed line to connect Kénitra to Marrakech in just 2 hours and 30 minutes by 2030, a remarkable reduction from the current travel time of six hours. This transformation is set to revolutionize national mobility, making travel more efficient than ever.
The ONCF has officially signed a contract with Alstom valued at 781 million euros for the acquisition of 18 Avelia Horizon high-speed trains as part of the extension project connecting Tangier to Marrakech. Recently, significant progress has been made on the Kénitra-Marrakech line, including the completion of the foundations for a strategic railway bridge, which is a critical piece of infrastructure in the 430-kilometer line designed for operational speeds of 320 km/h. This extensive project aims to enhance connectivity between Morocco's major urban centers through state-of-the-art facilities.
As reported by bladi.net.
