Al Boraq launched on November 15, 2018 — the first high-speed rail service in Africa. The line runs 323 kilometres from Tangier to Casablanca via Kenitra, cutting the journey time from 4 hours 45 minutes to 2 hours 10 minutes. The trains — Alstom Euroduplex double-deck TGVs — run at a maximum speed of 320 km/h. The project cost approximately $2.4 billion, co-financed by France, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE.
The Tangier-Kenitra section is the high-speed segment — 186 kilometres of dedicated track built to European LGV standards. South of Kenitra, the trains run on upgraded conventional track at reduced speed. The engineering was demanding — the route crosses the Gharb plain, which required extensive ground stabilisation due to soft alluvial soil.
Passenger numbers have exceeded projections. Al Boraq carried over 3 million passengers in 2023. The service runs roughly every hour during peak times, with business and economy classes. The impact on the Tangier-Casablanca corridor has been significant — business travel that once required overnight stays can now be done as day trips.
The extension to Marrakech is the next phase. The Casablanca-Marrakech high-speed line — approximately 200 kilometres — is in advanced planning and early construction. When complete, it will connect Morocco's three largest cities and its two primary tourist destinations in a single high-speed corridor. Journey time from Tangier to Marrakech will drop from 8 hours to approximately 3 hours 30 minutes.
The broader vision is a national high-speed network connecting Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Fes, Meknes, and Oujda. The timeline extends to 2040. The World Cup in 2030 provides a deadline for the Marrakech extension and potentially an Agadir connection.
Morocco's rail ambition is strategic. The high-speed network positions Morocco as a modern, connected, investable country. It also concentrates development along the Atlantic corridor — reinforcing the economic dominance of the Tangier-Casablanca-Marrakech axis.
Africa's first high-speed rail runs from Tangier to Casablanca. The TGV connects the endpoints of this route.
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The Facts
- —Al Boraq: Africa's first high-speed rail
- —Tangier to Casablanca: 2h10 (was 4h45)
- —Operational since November 2018
- —Top speed: 320 km/h
- —Cost: ~$2.1 billion
- —ONCF: national rail operator
- —Phase 2: Casablanca-Marrakech (planned)
- —Phase 3: Marrakech-Agadir (planned)
Sources
- ONCF (Office National des Chemins de Fer). Al Boraq technical specifications
- World Bank. Morocco transport sector review
- Agence Française de Développement. Morocco high-speed rail project documentation
Further Reading
Practical questions
