With the 2030 World Cup rapidly approaching, Morocco is looking to expand its national transport services. As part of those plans, King Mohammed VI of Morocco has now given the green light for a rail expansion plan worth $ 10.3 billion.
The rail expansion plan was officially launched on 24 April 2025. The 96 billion dirham ($10.3 billon) project includes several separate rail lines, including intercity, urban, and high speed trains.
The high speed rail will run from Kenitra on the Atlantic coast to Marrakesh, serving Rabat and Casablanca along the way. The trains will be able to travel at a speed of 350 kilometres per hour, meaning travellers will be able to journey from Marrakesh to Tangier in just two hours and 40 minutes. The travel time between Rabat and Casablanca’s main airport will only take 35 minutes. The route will measure 430 kilometres and should be operational by 2030, when Morocco is set to co-host the World Cup together with Spain and Portugal. The high speed line alone -including the rails, stations, and other infrastructure – is set to cost 53 billion dirhams ($5.7 billion)
His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, launched, on Thursday at the Rabat-Agdal train station, the 430-kilometer Kenitra-Marrakech High-Speed Rail Line.
— Morocco In Finland (@MoroccoInFIN) April 24, 2025
The Kenitra-Marrakech High Speed Rail Line project reflects the Sovereign’s enlightened Vision of improving the… pic.twitter.com/trT9YsNUzK
Investing in trains
Moroccan state-owned rail operator ONCF announced in February that it had signed deals to purchase 168 trains from France, Spain and South Korea for 29 billion dirhams ($3.1 billion). ONCF plans to double the number of cities served to 43, meaning 87% of the Moroccan population should have access to a rail connection by 2040.Â
Historic Milestone for Morocco’s Infrastructure!
— Morocco Now (@MoroccoNow_Ofcl) April 25, 2025
His Majesty King Mohammed VI officially launched the construction works for the new High-Speed Rail Line (LGV) connecting KĂ©nitra to Marrakech, during a ceremony held at the Rabat-Agdal train station. pic.twitter.com/0pfEx2KdUl
The French Alstom will supply 18 Avelia Horizon double-decker high-speed trains worth € 781 million, which are able to carry 640 passengers, riding at a speed of 320 kilometres per hour. Moreover, 40 trains for mainline services, 60 fast shuttle trains and 50 trains for the public transport network in the 3 urban areas of Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakech will be purchased.
La coopération franco-marocaine avance à grande vitesse !
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 25, 2025
Sa Majesté le Roi Mohammed VI a lancé hier les travaux de la nouvelle ligne à grande vitesse entre Kénitra et Marrakech. C’est le résultat concret des partenariats noués entre nos entreprises… pic.twitter.com/txiIuq4U9g
“Franco-Moroccan cooperation moves forward at high speed! Yesterday, His Majesty King Mohammed VI launched work on the new high-speed line between Kénitra and Marrakech. This is the tangible result of the partnerships forged between our companies during my State visit to Morocco last October. Long live the friendship between Morocco and France!”, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X following the launch of the railway expansion.
The aim of the railway investments is not only to prepare the country for the 2030 World Cup but also to make Morocco better prepared for a sustainable future and to relaunch the country’s railway industry.
