ONCF carries nearly two million passengers during eid travel surge

Thursday 04 June 2026 - 15:20

By: Dakir Madiha

ONCF carries nearly two million passengers during eid travel surge

The national railway operator transported close to two million passengers during the Eid travel period as mobility demand surged across Morocco. The operation covered the peak holiday window and aimed to maintain service continuity across major rail corridors.

Between 20 May and 7 June, the railway network ran an expanded schedule to absorb the increase in intercity and family travel. More than 2,535 trains were deployed during the period, offering around 1.3 million seats to meet demand across high-traffic routes. The operator focused on maintaining capacity on both long-distance and regional lines during peak congestion days.

Passenger distribution reflected strong use of all major services. High-speed and intercity trains carried large volumes, including more than 221,000 passengers on the high-speed network and over 935,000 on conventional long-distance services. Regional commuter trains accounted for the largest share, transporting nearly 795,000 travelers, confirming their central role in daily and holiday mobility patterns.

Traffic peaked on 25 May, when more than 200,000 passengers traveled in a single day. Despite the pressure on infrastructure, operational performance remained stable, with an overall punctuality rate of 82 percent. The high-speed service recorded a significantly higher reliability level, reaching 98.53 percent during the period, reflecting targeted scheduling and traffic management measures.

The reinforced transport plan forms part of a recurring strategy implemented during major religious holidays, school vacations, and summer travel peaks. Authorities continue to expand capacity and optimize scheduling to manage predictable surges in national mobility while maintaining service standards.