Editing Transport in Morocco (section)

=== High speed lines ===
{{main|Casablanca–Tangier high-speed rail line}}
[[File:Al Boraq Vitesse.jpg|right|thumb|203x203px|An on-board train speed reading 312 km/h on high-speed line, 2019]]
[[Image:Al Boraq RGV2N2 at Tanger Ville.jpg|thumb|right|An ONCF Al Boraq [[Alstom]] [[Euroduplex|RGV2N2]] high-speed train, [[Tanger-Ville railway station]], November 2018]]
[[Image:Train of Morocco.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Train of Morocco.]]

Morocco has one high-speed line with plans for several additional high-speed lines extensions.

Since 2018, the first high-speed rail line connects [[Casablanca]] and [[Tangier]]. This line is the first of its kind on the African continent. The line was inaugurated on 15 November 2018, by King [[Mohammed VI of Morocco]]. It is called [[Al Boraq]] (البُراق) in reference to the mythical creature that transported the Islamic prophets. On 26 November 2018, it was launched. This high-speed line allows a 323-kilometer-long (201&nbsp;mi) high-speed rail service.the service is operated by the [[ONCF]]. 

The high-speed line required over a decade of planning and construction.  Work by [[ONCF]] began in September 2011 on a first section from [[Tangier]] to [[Kenitra]].<ref>[http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/ceremony-launches-tanger-casablanca-high-speed-project.html Ceremony launches Tanger–Casablanca high speed project], Railway Gazette, 29 September 2011.</ref> 

The current high-speed line Tangier-Kenitra under construction was impacted by delays resulting from issues about land acquisitions because this operation was performed by different provincial governors, in order to avoid such delays on the next high-speed rail Marrakech-Essaouira, the national railway company ONCF was given the green light to start the land acquisition and expropriation procedure.<ref>[http://www.railwaypro.com/wp/green-light-for-the-new-high-speed-line-marrakech-essaouira/ Marrakech-Essaouira HSR : Greenlight given to ONCF for land expropriation]</ref>

There are plans for extensions on two core lines: a first one from [[Tangier]] in the north via Marrakesh to [[Agadir]] in the south, and a second from [[Casablanca]] on the Atlantic to [[Oujda]] on the Algerian border. If all of these plans are approved soon enough, building the 1,500 kilometres of tracks may last until 2035<ref>[http://menarailpost.com/2015/10/morocco-high-speed-line-2/ $10 billion for the high speed rail program] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005233823/http://menarailpost.com/2015/10/morocco-high-speed-line-2/ |date=5 October 2015 }}</ref> to complete at a cost of around 100 billion dirhams ($10 billion).

==== Proposed high speed extensions ====

Potential speed gains are large, with travel time from Casablanca to Marrakesh down from 3 hours to 1:20, and from the capital [[Rabat]] to Tangier from 4:30 to 1:30.<ref>[http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2006/September/middleeast_September345.xml&section=middleeast Khaleej Times Online - Morocco plans Arab world's first high-speed train] ''Khaleej Times'', 15 September 2006.</ref>

The second High-Speed Rail (HSR) which is planned to be built after Tangier-Kenitra is the HSR Marrakech-Essaouira (180&nbsp;km)<ref>[http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/high-speed-line-to-essaouira-planned.html  A High speed line From Marrakech to Essaouira] "''Railway Ghazette''", 1 October 2015</ref> followed by a new HSR Rabat-Meknes (130&nbsp;km).<ref>[http://www.challenge.ma/ferroviaire-une-nouvelle-ligne-entre-rabat-et-meknes-55905/ A HSR Rabat-Meknes through Khemisset]</ref> The last high-speed lines will connect these two old empire cities to the Atlantique coast in less than one hour instead of two hours now.

In December 2024, Morocco secured $14 billion in investments to expand Morocco's high speed rail. The goal of the project is to increase the high speed rail coverage of 320km to over 1280km by 2040, this would significantly enhance the country's connectivity, reduce travel times, and contribute to a greener, more sustainable transport system. <ref>Urban Transport News. (2024). ''Morocco’s mega railway expansion secures $14 billion in funding''. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from [https://urbantransportnews.com/news/moroccos-mega-railway-expansion-secures-14-billion-in-funding](https://urbantransportnews.com/news/moroccos-mega-railway-expansion-secures-14-billion-in-funding)</ref>

high-speed rail linking Kenitra to Marrakech via Casablanca Airport is being currently constructed. Journeys to Marrakech will only take 2 hours 45 minutes by 2029, down from 7 hours. Another line connecting Marrakech to Agadir could be ready as soon as mid-2025.
<ref>Morocco World News (2024). "Morocco on Track to Shake Up Railway Network." Retrieved December 11, 2024, from [https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2024/12/366892/morocco-on-track-to-shake-up-railway-network](https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2024/12/366892/morocco-on-track-to-shake-up-railway-network).</ref>