Qiyouh: The High-Speed Train Will Revolutionize Morocco’s Transportation System by 2029
The Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdel-Samad Qiyouh, announced that the ministry and the National Office of Railways are implementing an ambitious investment program to develop the national rail transport network, inspired by the royal directives from King Mohammed VI’s speech during the 44th anniversary of the Green March, which called for connecting northern and southern Morocco through a modern and integrated network.
During a session of oral questions at the House of Councillors on Tuesday, Qiyouh explained that detailed studies for the project linking the Port of Nador West Mediterranean to the rail network have been fully completed, with the necessary land acquired to commence construction. He indicated that the plan also includes the expansion of the conventional network to cover new cities such as Tetouan and Beni Mellal.
The minister added that the high-speed train project, which the king launched last April, will bring about a fundamental transformation in Morocco’s transportation system, noting that its impact will extend to airports and highways. By 2029, the high-speed train will be operational on new lines, reducing travel time between Tangier and Rabat to just one hour, between Rabat and Mohammed V Airport to half an hour, and between Tangier and Marrakech to two and a half hours, down from the current five hours.
Qiyouh pointed out that studies for connecting Marrakech to Essaouira have been assigned to a Chinese consultancy, and the final study for the Marrakech-Agadir project has been completed, adding that the ministry is seeking the necessary funding to start construction. He also revealed that several cities are gradually shifting from thermal energy to electric energy for trains, such as the city of Oujda.
Regarding road freight transport, the minister highlighted that the ministry launched an electronic portal in July in partnership with “Portnet” to issue the loading statement, as part of the single window system currently used by over 60% of transporters.
Qiyouh confirmed that the freight transport sector is experiencing significant dynamism, with around 90,000 enterprises, including 3,500 established this year alone, which reflects the sector’s attractiveness and its ability to create new investment opportunities. He noted that the ministry is working on important legislative and regulatory reforms, including amending the traffic code and reviewing the entry conditions to the profession, as well as a draft decree concerning the pricing system.
Concerning transport in rural areas, the minister explained that the ministry is expediting the review of cases submitted by regional committees within a maximum period of two weeks, noting that the main issue lies in the limited number of applications compared to demand. He announced that the ministry is preparing a new vision for dual transport in rural areas, which will consist of “transport hubs” that include taxis, buses, and dual transport lines to facilitate connections between rural communities and urban centers.
