Morocco: Africa's Only High-Speed Railway is Expanding
- Editor OGN Daily
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
Bullet trains have been all the rage in recent years, slashing travel times and helping to get cars off the road.
Extending the existing Al Boraq line - which currently runs between Kenitra and Tangier - is projected to cost around $5 billion. An additional 430 km (267 miles) will be added to link the line to Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech, three political, economic, and tourism hubs. In addition, a futuristic fleet of 168 trains will be purchased - able to travel at speeds of up to 217 mph - and a transit system will be added to each of the newly linked cities.
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI announced the construction of the extended line April 24, describing it as part of the country’s “strategic vision for sustainable, inclusive, and competitive mobility, driven by a future-oriented continental ambition,” reports Conde Nast Traveler. While officials have yet to offer a set completion date, the project plans to address the increase in traffic that’s expected by 2030 - spurred by Morocco’s preparations to co-host that year’s World Cup, according to Reuters.
To much fanfare, the original high-speed railway started operating in 2018 cut travel time from Casablanca to Tangier from just under 5 hours to just over two hours. With the upcoming upgrades, that duration will be slashed even further, to just one hour and 40 minutes.
The high-speed network is obviously a major benefit for locals, but it will also be a boon for tourists looking to explore Morocco. It's also likely to help attract yet more tourists and boost the nation's finances. Foreign currency tourism revenues in Morocco reached an unprecedented $11 billion, according to the ministry of tourism. “With an exceptional year marked by 17.4 million tourist arrivals, Morocco has reached a new milestone.”
As Morocco ramps up its rail infrastructure, Europe looks set to create a huge new high-speed train network to its already comprehensive offering, as plans to connect 39 European stations by a high-speed rail network have been revealed.