Morocco presents its railway ambition to the world at the Beijing High-Speed Rail Conference
During his participation in the High-Speed Rail Conference held in the Chinese capital Beijing, Mohamed Rabie Khlie, the Director General of the National Office of Railways, showcased the profound transformation occurring in Morocco’s rail transport sector. He emphasized that the Kingdom is committed to executing a strategic plan aimed at expanding its high-speed train network by 2030.
Khlie highlighted, in a roundtable organized under the slogan “High-Speed Rail: New Horizons,” the impressive performance of the “Al-Boraq” train, Africa’s first high-speed train, inaugurated in 2018 under the initiative of King Mohammed VI. He pointed out that this project serves as a successful economic model that covers operating costs and generates operational surpluses beyond international standards, operating 90% on green energy, which grants it the lowest carbon footprint in Morocco’s transport system.
The Director General revealed an investment plan worth €10 billion, allocated to extend the high-speed train line from Tangier to Marrakech over 430 kilometers at a speed of 320 kilometers per hour, increasing the total network length to 630 kilometers by 2029. This extension will penetrate five major economic regions that account for most of the country’s GDP and population, also serving the infrastructure connected to the 2030 World Cup, including three stadiums and two international airports.
Khlie explained that the new plan also includes establishing a regional transport service connecting Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech along a 250-kilometer route, with a frequency of one train every 7.5 minutes, in addition to acquiring 168 trains and upgrading or building 40 new stations according to the highest international standards.
He affirmed that the partnership with the Chinese side is a key driver in this project, with civil engineering works distributed between Moroccan and Chinese companies, while the China Railway Design Corporation is handling the technical studies for the rail line project between Marrakech and Agadir, which extends over 230 kilometers.
The 12th High-Speed Rail Conference, organized by the International Union of Railways, sees the participation of over 3,000 experts from around the world to discuss innovations and future opportunities in the rail transport sector, with Moroccan attendance offering a chance to highlight its continental leadership in this domain and to anticipate technological and investment cooperation with international partners.
