RABAT (Realist News Agency). King Mohammed VI of Morocco has officially launched construction of the Kénitra–Marrakech high-speed rail line, according to Business Insider Africa. The $5.3 billion (MAD 53 billion) project stands as Morocco’s largest infrastructure initiative in recent years.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the groundbreaking, noting on social media platform X that it stems from agreements forged between French and Moroccan companies during his state visit to Morocco in October 2023. “Franco-Moroccan cooperation is advancing at high speed! Long live the friendship between Morocco and France!” Macron wrote.
The new 430-kilometer line will connect major urban centers, drastically reducing travel times: from Tangier to Marrakech in 2 hours 40 minutes, from Tangier to Rabat in 1 hour, and from Rabat to Casablanca Airport in just 35 minutes. Completion is scheduled for the end of 2029, ahead of Morocco’s co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
According to the Moroccan National Railways Office (ONCF), the project includes the purchase of 18 new high-speed trains manufactured by France’s Alstom, each capable of reaching speeds of 320 km/h and accommodating 641 passengers. This acquisition will expand Morocco’s high-speed fleet from 12 to 30 trains.
The line will connect regions home to 59% of the country’s population and generating more than 67% of its GDP. ONCF estimates the project will create thousands of jobs in transportation, tourism, and services, further cementing Morocco’s position as a leader in African infrastructure development.
The launch of the Kénitra–Marrakech line reflects Morocco’s strategic commitment to developing a sustainable, low-carbon transportation network and solidifying its role as a key logistics hub for the continent.
France’s support for the project signals Paris’s intention to reinforce its economic presence in North Africa amid rising global competition. A successful completion of the line will enhance Morocco’s investment appeal and strengthen its geopolitical influence in the region.
Morocco already operates Africa’s first high-speed rail line, the Al Boraq service between Tangier and Casablanca, inaugurated in 2018. The new project builds on that success by expanding the country’s high-speed network nationwide.