Tangier set to launch tramway system ahead of 2030 World Cup

Tuesday 08 April 2025 - 09:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Tangier set to launch tramway system ahead of 2030 World Cup

Tangier is on the verge of becoming Morocco’s fourth city to implement a tramway system, following the announcement of an ambitious MAD 8.4 billion ($840 million) project. This initiative, which has been in the works since 2014, is now being propelled by the forthcoming 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host alongside Spain and Portugal.

The planned tramway will consist of three lines covering 25 to 30 kilometers, specifically designed to address FIFA's transportation infrastructure concerns for the upcoming tournament. Key stakeholders in this project include the Tangier Municipality, the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council, the Northern Regions Development Agency, and the Ministry of Transport and Logistics.

Oversight for the implementation will be provided by Alstom Transport Morocco, under the direction of Thi Mai Tran, who recently met with city officials to discuss the project.

Funding for the initiative will come from a combination of international and domestic sources, with 65% sourced from French public funds and the European Investment Bank. The remaining 35% will be financed through Moroccan public funds.

This tramway project represents a continuation of Morocco's efforts to expand its public transportation network. In September 2024, Casablanca launched its T3 and T4 tramway lines, adding 26.5 kilometers and 39 stations to the city’s existing transport infrastructure. These new lines operate from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with initial train intervals set at 10 minutes, which are expected to be reduced to 5 minutes as demand increases.

The tramway initiative is part of broader preparations for the 2030 World Cup. Following an unfavorable evaluation from FIFA in December 2024, where the city received low scores for accommodation and transportation, Tangier has intensified its infrastructure development efforts.

Earlier this year, Mayor Mounir Laymouri announced a MAD 1.124 billion ($112.4 million) investment in public transportation, including plans for a high-quality urban bus transit line. Additionally, Ibn Batouta Airport is undergoing a significant expansion, with a MAD 3.27 billion ($327 million) project aimed at tripling its passenger capacity from 2 million to 7 million annually by June 2029. This expansion includes a new terminal, a control tower, and expanded aircraft parking areas across 199 hectares.

Preliminary plans for the tramway indicate that one line will connect the offshore zone near the TGV station to Moghogha and Béni Makada. Another line will run along Boulevard Moulay Ismaïl, serving key areas such as the Hassani district, sports city, Gzénaya industrial zones, and the university area. This long-awaited project aims to alleviate urban transport challenges in Tangier, a city with a population of 1.1 million, while ensuring compliance with FIFA’s infrastructure requirements for the 2030 World Cup.