Morocco leads railway modernisation in Africa
In a recent article, the prestigious US magazine Newsweek has highlighted Morocco's ambitious strategy for the modernisation and expansion of its high-speed rail network, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI. This project is positioning the kingdom as a leader in the African continent in this sector.
Morocco is currently the only African country with a high-speed train line (TGV). With the aim of consolidating and modernising its railway infrastructure, the government seeks to accelerate economic development throughout the country and strengthen trade with the rest of the continent. This vision is backed by Mohammed VI, who has pledged to promote this progress.
The US publication recalls the sovereign's speech to the nation on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the Green March, in which he emphasised: "We also harbour the dream of building a railway line from Tangier to Lagouira, to connect Morocco to the rest of Africa. We pray that God will help us to find the financial resources we lack today to complete the Marrakech-Lagouira line".
As reported by La Vie Éco, Newsweek analyses the ambitions of the Morocco 2040 Railway Plan of the National Railway Office (ONCF), which aims to connect the country's main cities, modernise conventional rail services and stimulate Morocco's economic development.
As part of these plans, the ONCF also plans to extend the TGV to Marrakech by 2030, in anticipation of the World Cup that Morocco will co-host with Portugal and Spain. This effort aims not only to improve passenger transport, but also to facilitate new trade opportunities and the movement of goods, thus consolidating Morocco's position as a logistics hub between Europe and Africa.
The expansion of the high-speed rail network not only promises a significant leap in the country's transport infrastructure, but also reflects the King's strategic vision for sustainable development and regional integration. With its sights set on a prosperous future, Morocco is moving steadfastly towards a prominent position in the railway domain in both the African and global railway landscape.
Moreover, the ambitious ONCF 2040 plan envisages expanding the high-speed rail network from 200 to 800 miles over the next 16 years. The Al Boraq line, which currently connects Tangier to Casablanca and opened in 2018, is the cornerstone of this expansion. This 200-mile route reduces travel time from five to two hours.
The next step in the ONCF's plan is to extend the line north from Casablanca to Kenitra and south to Marrakech by 2030, in preparation for the World Cup. In addition, further expansion is planned to connect 43 cities, up from the current 23, with 2,300 miles of new rail lines. It is expected that 87% of the national population will benefit from this modernised network, up from 51% today. In addition, 12 ports and 15 international airports will be connected, compared to the current 6 and 1 respectively. The authorities estimate that this project will create 300,000 jobs.
Economic development is a key component of the 2040 Rail Strategy. By improving rail connectivity, the ONCF hopes to boost regional development and trade. The high-speed line will foster new trade opportunities and facilitate the movement of goods, positioning Morocco as a logistics hub between Europe and Africa.
In parallel, Spanish and Moroccan transport authorities have held high-level discussions on an ambitious project to build an underwater rail tunnel connecting Europe and Africa through the Strait of Gibraltar, further underlining Morocco's vision as a bridge between continents.