Transforming the Transportation Landscape in Morocco
In light of the significant infrastructural transformations underway in Morocco, particularly in the realm of smart transportation, the nation is witnessing a rapid acceleration in the implementation of strategic railway projects. These initiatives are pivotal for reshaping the mobility landscape and connecting major cities with modern networks that cater to the evolving economic, demographic, and environmental dynamics. Recently, the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdel-Samad Qiyuh, announced that the new high-speed train line connecting Kenitra and Marrakech has reached a completion rate of 30 percent, marking a substantial advancement in what is one of Morocco's largest railway projects.
During a session dedicated to railway transport in the House of Representatives, the minister emphasized that this new high-speed rail line is set to revolutionize travel times between Moroccan cities. The project will establish a modern network linking Rabat, Casablanca, Mohamed V Airport, and the Grand Stadium of Benslimane to Marrakech, characterized by standards of speed, efficiency, and sustainability.
The government official highlighted that the ministry, in collaboration with the National Office of Railways, is executing a massive investment program totaling 96 billion dirhams, which he described as the largest in the history of railway investments in Morocco over the last decade. This ambitious program includes the development of a 430-kilometer high-speed line from Kenitra to Marrakech, with an estimated budget of 53 billion dirhams, alongside the acquisition of 168 new trains and an allocation of 14 billion dirhams aimed at strengthening the infrastructure associated with the high-speed line and ensuring the continuity and effectiveness of the existing railway network.
Enhancing Travel Efficiency and Regional Connectivity
The minister noted that these projects will lead to a significant reduction in 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. Additionally, travel between Rabat and Tangier will be reduced to about one hour, down from one hour and twenty minutes currently. Furthermore, Rabat and Casablanca will experience substantial improvements in their rail connections to airports, with travel from central Rabat to Mohamed V Airport taking approximately 35 minutes via a new station, while the trip between the airport station and Marrakech will not exceed 55 minutes.
Regarding the second phase of the high-speed train project extending southward, the minister clarified that the technical and practical studies for the line connecting Marrakech and Agadir have been completed. However, the project faces complex engineering challenges due to the terrain of the High Atlas Mountains, particularly concerning the construction of tunnels and bridges that will constitute about 70 percent of the project's engineering framework. The ministry and the National Office of Railways are currently working on securing the necessary international funding for this project, which is estimated to cost around 55 billion dirhams.
In addition to these developments, the minister revealed that the suburban trains project, known as "RER," has also achieved a progress rate of 30 percent. This initiative is part of a long-term vision aimed at enhancing public transportation and alleviating traffic congestion within major cities while adhering to environmental standards and facilitating citizen mobility in the coming decades. The new suburban trains will feature modern stations, and the route connecting Rabat, Kenitra, and Skhirat will see trains operating every ten minutes, which is expected to mitigate traffic congestion and enhance public transport options.
As for traditional trains, Qiyuh confirmed that the National Office of Railways is continuing its modernization program for the "Atlas Trains" by acquiring and equipping new carriages for over 160 trains, which will connect several cities from Oujda to Marrakech, with the aim of improving service quality and enhancing comfort and safety.
Among the parallel industrial projects, the minister announced the establishment of a new factory in Benguerir dedicated to the manufacturing and maintenance of railway locomotives, with a local integration rate reaching 62 percent. This initiative aims to develop a national railway industry with Moroccan competencies, capable of meeting local market needs and expanding into export markets in the future.
Concerning service quality, the minister reported that on-time performance for trains has exceeded 87 percent, while customer satisfaction surveys indicated that the average satisfaction rate has surpassed 80 percent. He emphasized the ministry's openness to various proposals aimed at improving the quality of railway transport and enhancing its services.
According to observers, these projects reflect a strategic direction toward building a modern and integrated transportation system that positions railways as a lever for economic development and regional integration, as well as a tool for reshaping the relationship between cities and time in the context of a new Morocco.
As reported by kechpresse.com.
