Morocco launches $1.9 billion rail overhaul to redefine connectivity, boost links

His Majesty King Mohammed VI has launched a new phase of Morocco’s transport modernisation, inaugurating  a package of railway projects in the Hay Hassani district of Casablanca valued at MAD 20 billion ($1.9 billion). The initiative is part of a wider national effort to expand and upgrade the country’s rail network and is expected to reshape daily mobility in Morocco’s economic hub while improving links to Atlantic ports and industrial centres.

The enhanced network will also link Casablanca more efficiently to Atlantic ports such as Tangier, Nador and Dakhla, as well as to major industrial corridors, improving the flow of goods between West Africa, Europe and the Arab world.

 The programme reflects the King’s visionary leadership in driving long-term infrastructure development to strengthen Morocco’s role as a regional transport and trade hub.

The newly announced works form one segment of Morocco’s MAD 96 billion ($9.2 billion) rail modernisation strategy. This nationwide plan builds on years of investment in high-speed transport and follows the April commissioning of the 430-kilometre Kenitra–Marrakech high-speed line, which extended the reach of the Al Boraq service beyond Casablanca for the first time. Officials say the strategy aims to strengthen regional connectivity, expand passenger and freight capacity and create an industrial base capable of producing advanced railway technology domestically. The latest phase comes shortly after King Mohammed VI inaugurated MAD 5 billion ($557 million) worth of new works at the Casablanca Port Complex, including a dry dock shipyard and new maritime terminals. By coordinating port and rail upgrades, Morocco hopes to make Casablanca a fully integrated logistics and transport hub, linking global shipping routes with modern passenger and freight rail services.

“Integrating our ports, railways and airports is essential to Morocco’s competitiveness in the decades ahead,” said an official from the National Railways Office (ONCF). “The vision is to provide seamless, low-carbon movement of goods and people within Morocco and beyond.”

The current package will deliver 260 kilometres of new railway lines and 50 major engineering structures, while introducing 48 new regional and commuter trains capable of operating at speeds of up to 160 km/h. These trains will be integrated with trams, buses, taxis and airport express services, creating a single mobility network that links different modes of transport. Three next-generation stations are also being built to serve as anchors for the expanded system. The flagship Casablanca-South station, now under construction with an estimated investment of MAD 700 million, will include six platforms, ten tracks, 20,000 square metres of public space and parking for 700 vehicles. It is expected to handle up to 12 million passengers a year. A second major station will rise beside the Hassan II Grand Stadium in Benslimane, supporting planned growth on Casablanca’s southern outskirts. A third hub will serve Mohammed V International Airport, where a new terminal is planned to accommodate five million travellers annually. All three stations are scheduled for completion within the next 24 months and are expected to play a key role in integrating air, sea and land transport.

By 2030, Casablanca is expected to operate a metropolitan commuter rail service running every seven and a half minutes across three principal lines covering 92 kilometres. Ten new suburban stations will be added and five existing hubs upgraded under a MAD 625 million investment package. The network is projected to carry 150,000 passengers daily, significantly reducing congestion on Casablanca’s busy road network and cutting travel times across the metropolitan area. Funding for the project comes primarily from the ONCF, which is providing about 70 percent of the cost. The remaining share is being contributed by the Casablanca-Settat regional council, reflecting the city’s commitment to co-finance transformative infrastructure.

Industrial development is also central to the programme. South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem has been awarded the contract to supply the 48 new trains and will establish a local manufacturing facility to produce rolling stock for Morocco’s expanding network and future export markets. Industry observers say the move is a key step in building Morocco’s mobility technology ecosystem.

“This is more than a transport project — it’s an industrial opportunity,” an ONCF representative noted. “By manufacturing trains locally, we reduce costs, create skilled jobs and position Morocco as an exporter of green mobility solutions.”

Officials have underlined that the railway expansion supports Morocco’s low-carbon development goals. Moving passengers and freight from road to rail is expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions and help cities like Casablanca tackle chronic congestion. New economic activity is also anticipated around modern transport hubs, where retail, services and housing developments are likely to emerge. Thousands of jobs are expected during construction, and long-term employment opportunities will follow in operations, maintenance and the rail supply chain. The focus on electrified rail and local manufacturing is seen as part of a broader national strategy to combine climate action with industrial growth.