Morocco Invests 1.44 Billion Dirhams in High-Speed Rail Expansion to Marrakech and Agadir

According to the explanatory note of the 2024 Finance Bill, the Moroccan Executive will mobilize 1.44 billion dirhams from 2023 to 2027 to achieve these objectives. As of June 2023, the ONCF has already received a total of 1.93 million dirhams from the government, i.e. 5% more than in 2022, and could benefit from a transfer of 4.34 million dirhams at the end of the second half of this year, which represents an increase of 6% compared to 2022.

In terms of investments, 434 million dirhams have already been disbursed, representing a completion rate of 13%. Forecasts for 2024-2026 announce an investment of around 12.77 billion dirhams which will be exclusively dedicated to the acquisition of wagons. As part of the necessary rationalization of the financing of rail infrastructure to ensure the sustainability of ONCF’s performance, the State and ONCF would benefit from accelerating the development of a new financing plan for the sector’s development program and evaluating the financial structure of the National Railway Office, comments SNRT News.

The ONCF has already developed a medium and long-term development plan, announced the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mohamed Abdeljalil, in response to a parliamentary question. According to him, this plan provides for the construction of 1,300 km of high-speed lines and 3,800 km of conventional rail lines to connect 43 Moroccan cities against 23 currently. Thus, the development of rail transport should reach 87% in the kingdom, against 51% currently.

In addition, 10 regional interchange centers will be created as part of this plan and aim to improve integration and coordination between the different modes of transport. In line with the national strategy for port, industrial and logistics development, it also includes projects to connect 14 ports to the rail network and 12 airports.