Morocco
Country Details
Name: Morocco (Maroc)
Language: Arabic and French
Currency: Moroccan Dirham (MAD)
National railway system
ONCF - Office National des Chemins de Fer du Maroc
UIC code
Numeric 93; alpha MA
Timetable
Note that a special timetable is in effect for the month of Ramadan which, as its dates depend on the lunar cycle, is not at the same time each year.
Journey Planner
The website may show a timetable which supposedly finished weeks earlier.
Train information in real time is available, but seemingly only on downloading an App as the weblink as at Jan-25 did not work.
Downloadable Timetable
https://www.oncf.ma/en/Travelers/Relation-client/Downloads
https://www.oncf-voyages.ma/telechargement-des-horaires
Note that the online version omits some useful notes which are in the printed version. The timetable may often continue out of the nominal date range until superseded.
Printed Timetable
A large sheet version of the timetable is kept 'under the table' at main stations, which can be viewed by those persistent enough to ask. It shows all services, but not some of the minor halts. It contains notes which are missing from the online version.
Summary timetables are available in some editions of the European Rail Timetable.
Engineering Information
None
Maps
- World Rail Atlas - North, East and Central Africa by Neil Robinson.
Ticketing
A site is now available for on line ticket purchase.
Railcards are available, at ticket offices, for Youth (16-30 years) and Senior (60+) travellers, seemingly giving 15% off normal full fares.
The Seat61 website > Travelling by train in Morocco gives useful information on travelling in Morocco. Note the Moroccan Rail Pass, which could be bought from ticket windows at major stations using an application form downloaded from the ONCF website is no longer available.
Infrastructure
Gauge
Standard
Electrification
3 kV DC except for the Tanger - Kénitra high speed line, which is 25 kV AC. All passenger lines are electrified except for the routes east of Fes to Oujda and Beni Nsar Port.
750 V DC for tramways.
Rule of the road
Left
Other Railways
None
Tourist Lines
The Oriental Desert Express operated by -Supratravel forms part of a holiday package running (usually) at least once a year which starts in Oujda and travels the approx. 300km freight line from Beni Oukil to Bouarfa. The train is also available to charter. The journey is a full day, with passengers returning to Oujda by coach or by a sleeping carriage on the return journey.
Metro
None.
Trams
- Rabat - Salé. Revenue earning services started on 23 May 2011.
- Casablanca. Revenue earning services started on 12 December 2012.
Websites are in French.
Recent and future changes
As part of major rail investment to coincide with Morocco being one of the host countries for the 2030 FIFA Soccer World Cup:-
- the high speed line service will be extended approximately 320km from Kénitra via Casablanca to Marrakech. Construction contracts for the new alignment commenced being awarded in October 2024 including ones from near the current high speed/main line junction north of Kénitra and a Casablanca "avoider" to Berrechid.
- A branch line is to be built to serve the Grand Stade de Casablanca in Ben Slimane, southeast of Mohammedia
Public services on Casablanca tram routes T3 [14 km] and T4 [13 km] began on 23 September 2024 after an extended period of trial running over the summer.
Morocco’s first high speed line, between Tanger and Kénitra opened on 29 December 2019. This 186km section is the first phase of the planned Tanger – Casablanca high speed line. Currently trains run on the upgraded line from Kenitra to Casablanca, as a third, parallel track, used only by freight services has been built.
A new railway line opened on 17 June 2009 between a triangle immediately south of Tanger Morora and the huge new port of Tanger Med. In early 2013 a sparse passenger service of 2 trains per day was scheduled on the branch as far as Ksar Sghir. Regular services between Tanger Ville and Tanger Med commenced on 15 June 2013 but soon ceased due to lack of demand. There have been no services for several years.
November 2012 saw the launch of the first phase of a project to double the Settat to Marrakech line, build a new station at Benguerir, and construct a 2 hectare ‘dry port’ at Sidi Ghanem on the outskirts of Marrakech.
In 2010 a new 27km cut-off between Sidi Yahya El Gharb and Mechraa Bel Ksiri allowed trains from Casablanca to Tanger to avoid the longer route via Sidi Kacem.
The new railway from Taourirt to Beni Ksar Port was officially opened by King Mohammed VI on 10 July 2009, along with the two new stations at Nador, the major city on the line. Trains initially went past Nador Ville (the main station) to a small station at Beni Ksar Port, also known as Beni Ansar / Aït Nsar Port. From an unknown date trains terminated at Nador Ville, but trains have continued to Beni Ansar Ville station, short of the port area, since at least June 2022.
Special Notes
The line from Oujda to Maghnia in Algeria has been closed for political reasons for some years, so Morocco has no rail connections to other countries. Beni Nsar Port station is only 150 m from the border with the Spanish enclave of Melilla. Beni Nsar Port has ship connections to Almeria and Sete (France).
Visit Reports
Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
See Morocco - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services.
