Africa’s first high-speed line is a triumph
Morocco’s first high-speed rail line was inaugurated in November 2018. It connects Casablanca and Tangier via Rabat, reducing the journey from 4h45 to just 2h10. We revisit this milestone in African rail history.
Casablanca - Tangier
186km
Phase 1 of Morocco’s Atlantic high-speed rail project
Casablanca - Tangier
357km/h
African rail speed record
Casablanca - Tangier
in 2h10
vs 4h45 previously
A singular partnership
The Casablanca-Rabat-Tangier link is Phase 1 of a projected 1,500-km high-speed network by 2030. To meet the challenge, Morocco called in SNCF for its expertise in designing, building, operating and maintaining what would become the Al Boraq line.
Working hand in hand
Starting in 2009, SNCF and Morocco’s ONCF formed teams for each major task, pairing local experts with high-speed rail know-how. The partners also created a training centre: Institut de Formation Ferroviaire (IFF).
90
SNCF engineers spent 9 years on the project
6 million
passengers projected annually
€9 million
per km built, one of the lowest costs in the world
Viaducts and more bridges
The line crosses several flood plains and required 286 engineering works, including 13 viaducts. The most prominent of these is El Hachef, a 3.5km structure south of Tangier that cost €100 million.
What comes next?
New projects on the horizon:
- extending high-speed service from Kenitra to Rabat
- building a second high-speed line from Marrakech to Agadir and then on to Casablanca
- launching a commuter rail system for Casablanca and its suburbs
- building and renovating maintenance facilities
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