Morocco Advances Plans for Kénitra-Agadir High-Speed Rail Extension

Responding to a question from the parliamentary group of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), the minister indicated that the preliminary studies for the extension of the high-speed line between Marrakech and Agadir are underway, also announcing the connection of the Mediterranean ports of Nador and Agadir to the railway network, as well as the strengthening of the fleet of the Office with the latest generation of trains.

The National Office of Railways (ONCF) has already launched feasibility studies for the electrification of the railway line connecting Fez to Oujda, said Mohamed Abdeljalil, stressing that the Office does not fail to carry out maintenance work on the railway network in order to comply with international standards, as well as rapid and targeted interventions in case of problems.

The Minister of Transport and Logistics recalled that nearly 70 billion dirhams have been invested over the past two decades to modernize and develop the Moroccan railway sector. Major projects have been launched in this framework, including the Tanger-Casablanca TGV, the tripling and strengthening of the Kénitra-Casablanca axis, the duplication of the Casablanca-Marrakech railway axis, as well as the construction of new generations of railway stations, he specified.

These actions and investments have led to a 14% increase in passenger traffic in 2023 compared to 2022, or more than 52 million passengers transported, including 5 million by high-speed trains, the minister said, noting that 219 level crossings and 33 pedestrian crossings have been equipped, as well as 1,100 km of barriers installed, for a total amount of 1.5 billion dirhams over the period from 2012 to 2018.