Significant Progress in Morocco's High-Speed Rail Initiative
On September 15, 2026, at 20:00, Morocco's ambitious high-speed train project linking Marrakech to Agadir reached a pivotal milestone as the government announced the public utility declaration for this railway connection. This declaration, alongside the proposed line connecting Chichaoua to Essaouira, paves the way for initiating the necessary administrative and property procedures to bring these projects to fruition.
The daily newspaper "Al-Akhbar," in its edition on Wednesday, September 16, highlighted the details of the project agreement, which confirmed the public utility status for the two railway lines under Decree No. 2.26.605, issued on September 1, 2026, and published in the official gazette No. 7541 on September 7, 2026. This legislation encompasses several territorial areas belonging to the Marrakech-Safi and Souss-Massa regions, and it specifically mandates the provision of the necessary land for future railway infrastructure.
With this important step, the newspaper emphasized that it has now become possible to commence the processes of land acquisition and, if necessary, expropriation, in accordance with Law No. 7.81 concerning expropriation for public utility. The routes for the railway links have been outlined in a facility design created at a scale of 1:50,000.
The report noted that this phase is a critical preliminary procedure before the actual commencement of construction work. The investment associated with the Marrakech-Agadir high-speed train project is estimated to be around 55 billion dirhams, following the completion of relevant studies. Meanwhile, Moroccan authorities continue their efforts to attract international partners capable of contributing to the project's financing and implementation.
However, the project faces significant technical challenges, particularly the crossing of the High Atlas Mountains, which represents one of the most daunting obstacles for the construction. Approximately 70% of the planned structures are expected to be bridges and tunnels, given the mountainous terrain between Marrakech and Agadir. This geographical nature will likely require the adoption of complex technical solutions and meticulous planning.
With the announcement of public utility, the project is gradually transitioning from a phase of announcements to a more concrete administrative and property stage. The upcoming phases will primarily focus on managing the necessary land for the project, mobilizing financing, and preparing for the start of construction work.
As reported by ar.le360.ma.
