Overview of the National Rail Office's Achievements
The National Office of Railways (ONCF) held its administrative council meeting yesterday under the chairmanship of Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdel Samad Guiouh, to present its performance report for the year 2025 and to approve its financial statements for the same fiscal year. In his opening remarks, Guiouh praised the ongoing dynamism of the railway sector, which is being propelled by King Mohammed VI’s ambitious and proactive strategic vision, supported by the implementation of significant projects that have established the Moroccan railway sector over the years as a crucial driver of sustainable and low-emission transportation, yielding significant socio-economic impacts for the kingdom.
Guiouh emphasized the strategic importance of an ambitious investment program, costing 96 billion dirhams, launched by King Mohammed VI on April 24, 2025. He noted that the implementation of this program has advanced according to the established expectations, highlighting the noticeable progress in railway projects dedicated to the Greater Casablanca region, which were inaugurated by the King on September 24, 2025.
Key Developments and Financial Performance
Mohamed Rabii Khlaï, the General Director of ONCF, explained that the year 2025 was marked by an accelerated pace of project execution, particularly in civil engineering works related to the high-speed line connecting Kenitra and Marrakech. He pointed out that 2025 also saw the launch of an ambitious program to acquire 168 new-generation trains to keep pace with the rapid growth in transport demand and to enhance the quality of services provided to passengers sustainably.
Continuing his address, Khlaï confirmed the positive dynamics and notable efficiency that characterized ONCF's operations in 2025, reflected in a significant revival of its core activities, with its turnover surpassing 5 billion dirhams for the first time. According to the office’s statement, passenger transport experienced a steady upward trajectory in 2025, attracting approximately 55.6 million travelers who chose trains as their primary mode of transportation. Financially, this increase translated into a turnover of 2.9 billion dirhams, marking a 5% rise compared to 2024.
The high-speed train, TGV Al Boraq, which celebrated its seventh anniversary in 2025, stands as a symbol of excellence and innovation, having transported 5.6 million passengers and generated a turnover of 848 million dirhams, reinforcing its status as an emblem of modern and sustainable mobility.
Regarding the support for the Africa Cup of Nations, the document noted that ONCF once again demonstrated its operational superiority by establishing a dedicated system for this event. This included the opening of the Rabat Agdal station, planning exceptional stops at the Sidi Ibrahim station in Marrakech, and mobilizing over 250 additional trains to transport more than 250,000 fans between the host cities.
In the freight and logistics sector, the statement indicated that ONCF continues to record steady improvements in key performance indicators, both in phosphate transport and in freight activities, reflecting its capacity to meet growing logistical needs. The revenue from freight activities reached 744 million dirhams, showing a significant growth of 6% compared to the previous year, primarily attributed to the robust dynamics of container and energy material transport, with a total of 9 million tons transported, an increase of 6% year-on-year.
In terms of phosphate transport, the document reported a remarkable growth, exceeding 14.2 million tons, representing an increase of over 12% compared to the previous year, contributing to achieving a turnover of 1.245 billion dirhams, which reflects a 10% rise. This performance led to the ONCF surpassing the 5 billion dirham mark for the first time. Passenger transport remains the primary driver of this performance, accounting for about 59% of the total turnover for 2025.
Despite the prevailing inflationary context, the ONCF successfully rationalized operational expenses, positively impacting profits. The gross operating income reached 2.173 billion dirhams in 2025, compared to 1.949 billion dirhams in 2024. The surplus in operating results clearly reflects the office's ability to sustain the consumption of all its fixed assets, including infrastructure investments, with an operating result surplus of 1.3 billion dirhams excluding infrastructure depreciation. Similarly, the net result recorded a profit of 878 million dirhams, showcasing the excellent performance and effective management of the office.
In this context, the ONCF affirmed its ongoing commitment through the establishment of a new environmental and social governance (ESG) strategy aimed at 2030, which seeks to structure all office activities around sustainability challenges. This initiative is accompanied by obtaining the ISO 37001 certification for the anti-bribery management system, reflecting the office's strict adherence to the highest standards of ethics and transparency.
At the conclusion of the session, Abdel Samad Guiouh and the board members commended the exceptional efforts exerted by all ONCF employees, appreciating their effective contributions to achieving set goals and preempting challenges in sustainable mobility.
As reported by hespress.com.
