Morocco’s Rail Vision Accelerates with Launch of Kenitra–Marrakech High-Speed Corridor Construction
Recently, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, launched the construction of the Kenitra–Marrakech High-Speed Rail Line. This marks a major milestone in Morocco’s ongoing rail modernisation efforts. The project is designed to improve national connectivity, stimulate economic activity, and provide a more sustainable mode of transport. It builds on the success of the Al-Boraq line, reinforcing high-speed rail as the preferred option for medium- and long-distance travel.
The high-speed line will drastically cut journey times—for example, Tangier to Marrakech in 2 hours 40 minutes, Rabat to Casablanca Airport in 35 minutes, and Fez to Marrakech in 3 hours 40 minutes. It will serve 59% of the population and regions contributing over 67% of the national GDP, while also supporting regional development and urban mobility.
The Kenitra–Marrakech High-Speed Rail project is budgeted at MAD 53 billion (excluding rolling stock) and forms part of a larger MAD 96 billion investment programme. This includes:
- MAD 29 billion for the acquisition of 168 new trains to modernise ONCF’s fleet and support both high-speed and conventional services
- MAD 14 billion allocated to maintaining system performance and developing three metropolitan transport networks in Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakech
The project is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, strengthen Morocco’s environmental goals by cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and unlock new potential for domestic and international tourism, especially by linking the northern port city of Tangier directly to Marrakech, a top tourist destination.
Additionally, the high-speed network will free up capacity on the conventional rail system, enabling the rollout of metropolitan train services that address urban mobility challenges in Morocco’s three largest cities.