Morocco’s ONCF 2030 Plan Accelerates High-Speed and Regional Rail Expansion

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Morocco is entering a new phase in the development of its railway system, with the National Railways Office (ONCF) pursuing an ambitious programme designed to reshape mobility across the country by 2030.

Officially launched on April 24, 2025, in Rabat by King Mohammed VI, the programme combines the expansion of high-speed rail with the development of regional and metropolitan services. The overall investment envelope is set at 96 billion dirhams.

A 430-kilometre high-speed extension

One of the programme’s central projects is the extension of Morocco’s high-speed rail infrastructure over approximately 430 kilometres between Kenitra and Marrakech.

The scale of the project requires extensive civil-engineering works across several territories. Construction has been divided into 14 civil-engineering packages, covering earthworks, structures, major engineering works and the Rabat tunnel.

The first stage involves preparing the railway platform, including the excavation, treatment, movement and compaction of millions of cubic metres of soil. The future alignment must also cross roads, existing railway lines, waterways and densely developed urban areas.

In Rabat, the high-speed line will pass beneath the city through a dedicated tunnel. The underground structure is intended to allow the new railway to integrate into the metropolitan area while limiting its impact on the urban environment.

Once the main civil-engineering operations are completed, subsequent phases will include the installation of ballast, sleepers and rails, followed by overhead electrical systems, signalling and telecommunications equipment.

Construction alongside an operating railway

The transformation of Morocco’s rail network presents an additional operational challenge: existing railway services must continue running while major construction projects are carried out.

Works are therefore being organised in stages, including operations during both daytime and nighttime. This approach is intended to allow the infrastructure programme to advance without bringing the existing railway system to a standstill.

The project consequently involves not only the construction of new infrastructure but also complex coordination between construction teams and the operational requirements of the existing network.

Regional rail at the centre of metropolitan mobility

The ONCF programme extends beyond high-speed connections between major cities. A parallel expansion of regional and metropolitan rail services is planned to address everyday mobility needs.

Casablanca is set to receive a new sustainable and connected regional transport system, including three major new stations and 48 regional trains.

The programme also provides for 260 kilometres of new electrified railway lines, with a projected capacity of around 35 million passengers annually.

In Rabat, a metropolitan railway service is planned to serve 12 stations. The programme also foresees six stations connecting Marrakech and Benguerir, strengthening links between these urban and economic centres.

Connecting cities, airports and major facilities

The ONCF strategy is built around two complementary functions. High-speed rail is intended to shorten travel times between Morocco’s major cities, while regional services are designed to improve connections within metropolitan areas and between neighbouring territories.

The broader objective is to establish a railway network capable of linking major urban centres with airports and strategic facilities. Sports infrastructure, including football stadiums, is also part of this connectivity strategy as Morocco prepares to host and participate in major international events.

Maintenance facilities and dedicated technical centres are planned along the network to support operational reliability and safety once the expanded infrastructure enters service.

A 96-billion-dirham railway investment

With a total projected investment of 96 billion dirhams, the ONCF’s 2030 development programme represents a major new cycle for Morocco’s railway sector.

The programme combines infrastructure expansion, electrification, high-speed services, regional transport and technical modernisation. Its stated objective is to strengthen rail as a key component of sustainable mobility while improving territorial connectivity and the quality of railway services.

The scale of the projects also reflects an effort to prepare the national transport system for continued urban growth and increased movement between Morocco’s principal economic, tourist and administrative centres.

By 2030, the programme is expected to give Morocco a more interconnected railway system, combining long-distance high-speed links with regional services designed around daily passenger mobility.