Data Module 060 — Infrastructure Intelligence
The TGV &
Rail Network
Africa’s only high-speed rail. 55 million passengers a year. A $9.5 billion investment plan that will connect 43 cities by 2040. And a feasibility study for a tunnel under the Strait of Gibraltar.
001 — The Network
Six Lines, One Vision
002 — The Lines
Every Line Explained
Al Boraq
Tangier → Kenitra → Rabat → Casablanca
Africa's only high-speed rail. Opened 15 November 2018. Named after the mythical creature that transported the Prophet Muhammad. 186 km dedicated high-speed track (Tangier–Kenitra) + 137 km upgraded conventional (Kenitra–Casablanca). 12 Alstom Euroduplex trainsets, 533 passengers each. Hourly departures 06:00–21:00. African speed record: 357 km/h set during testing (2017). 5.6 million passengers in 2025.
North–South Mainline
Tangier → Kenitra → Rabat → Casablanca → Marrakech
Morocco's spine. Connects all major Atlantic coast cities. The Casablanca–Kenitra section is shared with Al Boraq. South of Casablanca, the line continues to El Jadida junction, Settat, and Marrakech. Al Atlas intercity service. Night trains with couchettes and private compartments.
East–West Mainline
Oujda → Taza → Fes → Meknes → Sidi Kacem → (joins N–S)
Connects the eastern border to the Atlantic corridor. Junction at Sidi Kacem. Night hotel train Casablanca–Oujda (departs 21:15, arrives 07:00). The Fes–Meknes segment is one of Morocco's most scenic. Branch line from Taourirt to Nador (100 km, opened 2009).
Al Boraq Extension to Marrakech
Kenitra → Casablanca Airport → Marrakech
Three construction segments: Kenitra–Aïn Sebaâ (150 km), Aïn Sebaâ–Nouaceur via Casablanca Airport (130 km), Nouaceur–Marrakech (212 km). Will replace current shared conventional track. 18 new Alstom Avelia Horizon trainsets ordered (€781M, March 2025, delivery from 2027). Target completion by 2029–2030, ahead of 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Marrakech–Agadir High-Speed
Marrakech → Chichaoua → Agadir
Land procurement has begun. Stop at Chichaoua (pop. <16,000). Original extension to Essaouira dropped due to difficult terrain and economics — Essaouira to be connected via 200 km/h intercity service instead. Would bring rail to the Souss-Massa region for the first time.
Rabat–Fes–Oujda High-Speed
Rabat → Meknes → Fes → (Taza → Oujda)
Feasibility studies underway for Rabat–Fes via Meknes. ONCF has announced intent to extend to Oujda via Taza and Taourirt. Would connect Morocco's eastern gateway to the high-speed network. Part of the 2040 Rail Strategy's 1,100 km high-speed target.
Al Boraq. Named after the creature that carried the Prophet between worlds. Now it carries 5.6 million passengers a year between Tangier and Casablanca.
003 — The Numbers
Passenger & Freight Data
| Year | Total Passengers | Al Boraq | Revenue | Freight | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ~47M | ~4.2M | — | — | Post-COVID recovery year |
| 2023 | 53M | 5.2M | ~$450M | 17M tonnes | Al Boraq +25% over 2022 |
| 2024 | 55M | 5.5M | $480M+ | 20M tonnes | Freight +17% YoY. Phosphate recovery. |
| 2025 (proj) | 56–57M | 5.6M | $500M+ | 21M tonnes | Largest investment plan in ONCF history begins. |
| 2026 (target) | 58.5M | TBD | 5.4B MAD | 24M tonnes | +4% passenger growth. Investment: 23B MAD. |
004 — Milestones & Strategy
The 2040 Vision
2018
Al Boraq opens
Africa's first (and still only) high-speed rail. Casablanca–Tangier in 2h 10min vs. 4h 45min previously.
357 km/h
African speed record
Set during testing in February 2017. Revenue service tops out at 320 km/h.
€781M
18 new trainsets ordered
Alstom Avelia Horizon. Ordered March 2025. Deliveries from 2027 for the Marrakech extension.
$9.5B
2030 rail investment
Total planned investment to 2030. New stations, rolling stock, extensions, regional express services.
43 cities
2040 network target
Up from 23 cities currently connected. 87% population coverage (from 51%). 12 ports, 15 airports linked.
300,000
Jobs projected
Direct and indirect employment from the 2040 Rail Strategy expansion.
005 — The Dream
The Strait of Gibraltar Tunnel
Just 14 km separates Morocco from Spain. No rail connection exists. But a tunnel — deeper than the Channel Tunnel — remains a "strategic project" for both nations. In January 2025, Spain contracted a feasibility study expected by mid-2025. If built, it would connect Africa's high-speed network to Europe's. Tangier to Madrid by train.
006 — Network At A Glance
The Infrastructure
2,110 km
Total track length
1,060 km electrified
23
Cities connected
Target: 43 by 2040
186 km
True high-speed track
Tangier–Kenitra segment
533
Seats per trainset
2 first-class, 5 second-class, 1 restaurant car
51%
Population served
Target: 87% by 2040
20M tonnes
Freight (2024)
Phosphate is the dominant cargo
Sources
Wikipedia — Al Boraq: 323 km service, Alstom Euroduplex, 357 km/h speed record, 2018 inauguration
Wikipedia — High-Speed Rail in Morocco: 2040 Rail Strategy, 1,100 km HSR target, Marrakech extension, Gibraltar tunnel
Wikipedia — ONCF: network structure, Taourirt–Nador branch, night trains, Supratours bus connections
Wikipedia — Rail Transport in Morocco: conventional lines, N–S and E–W mainlines, freight operations
Morocco World News (Jan 2025): 55M passengers 2024, 5.5M Al Boraq, $480M revenue, 57M target 2025
Morocco World News (Dec 2024): Kenitra–Marrakech extension, 2h 45min target, $1B ONCF investment 2025–27
Atalayar (April 2025): 56M passengers 2025, 5.6M Al Boraq, 2030 plan $9.5B, 43 cities, 87% population, 300K jobs
Maghreb Magazine (Dec 2025): 5.6M Al Boraq 2025, 18B MAD investment, 58.5M target 2026
Morocco World News (Nov 2024): 41M passengers in 9 months, MAD 87B ($8.5B) HSR expansion
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This visualization may not be reproduced without visible attribution.
Sources: ONCF, AfDB