New Railway Project Establishes Tangier as the Gateway for Rapid Transport to the South
A specialized European platform focusing on railway news recently announced a new funding initiative totaling €205 million, approved by the African Development Bank to benefit Morocco. This funding is earmarked for the expansion of the high-speed train line connecting Tangier to Marrakech, marking a significant development in Morocco's transportation infrastructure.
According to a report published by the "Rail Market" platform on Tuesday, this financing will facilitate updates to the railway infrastructure along the Kenitra-Marrakech corridor and enhance the surrounding areas of the Casablanca junction. The overarching project encompasses not only the extension of the high-speed rail services but also the enhancement of traditional rail lines dedicated to passenger and freight transport, thereby improving overall capacity and efficiency.
The report elaborated that this initiative represents a southern extension of the Al Boraq network, which commenced its first phase between Tangier and Kenitra, subsequently linking Tangier to Casablanca via Kenitra and Rabat. While the new funding does not directly target the section between Tangier and Kenitra, it plays a crucial role in completing the Atlantic railway axis that originates from Tangier and proceeds through Rabat and Casablanca towards Marrakech.
Included in the project is the procurement of tracks, components, and equipment for both the high-speed and conventional rail lines, alongside modernization efforts for the railway structure surrounding Casablanca. These enhancements aim to increase capacity, improve train operations, and reduce travel times significantly.
The European platform's report also noted that the African Development Bank had previously allocated €300 million to augment the capacity of the Tangier-Marrakech line, which included the addition of new tracks, updates to signaling systems, renovations to the Casablanca Port station, and the establishment of a central control center for train movements.
The high-speed rail line currently under construction between Kenitra and Marrakech spans approximately 430 kilometers and is part of an extensive railway program with a total estimated cost of 96 billion dirhams. Of this, around 53 billion dirhams has been allocated for the infrastructure and equipment associated with the new line.
As reported by the National Office of Railways, excavation, backfilling, and technical installations are progressing across various sections of the route, with approximately 20 million cubic meters of earthwork completed and the construction of 15 bridges and three covered sections underway.
According to Ashraf Al-Tarsim, the representative of the African Development Bank in Morocco, combining the extension of the high-speed line with upgrades to the existing network will support the increasing demand for passenger and freight transport, facilitate exchanges, and shorten travel times.
The completion of this line is expected to maintain Tangier's status as the northern departure point for the high-speed rail network, connecting it to an urban and economic corridor that includes Kenitra, Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech.
This project aligns with the "Railways 2040" plan, which aims to modernize the national railway network, enhance the competitiveness of transport and logistics services, and strengthen the connectivity between ports, industrial centers, and major cities within a unified rail network.
As reported by tanja24.com.
