Morocco - Project to Increase Capacity on the Tanger-Marrakech Railway Line

This project aims at a capacity increase on the Tangiers-Marrakesh railway line concerning the two sections - Kenitra-Rabat-Casablanca and Casablanca-Settat-Marrakesh that link the South to both the North and East of Morocco. Indeed, because of its central geographic position, the 126 km long double track Kenitra-Casablanca railway line is a key link for the development of exchanges between the north, south, east and west of the country. This line plays a key role in National Railway Company (ONCF)’s freight and passenger activities, conveying almost 70% of freight flows (excluding phosphates) and almost 50% of the passenger population. Its current occupation rate exceeds 75%, well beyond the 60% threshold rate recommended by the International Union of Railways (UIC) for track operating. The Casablanca-Marrakech railway line constitutes a lasting solution for transport between Casablanca, the economic megalopolis and Marrakech the biggest tourist centre in the southern part of the country. At an estimated total cost of about MAD 5.1 billion (about EUR 438.2 million), this project is in line with the overall national transport sector development strategy, in particular, the continued upgrading and modernisation of transport infrastructure and services with a view to increasing the national economy’s logistics competitiveness. It is scheduled for implementation over the 2011-2016 period and consists in : (i) strengthening works on the existing tracks, including the construction of a third track, 148 km long between Zenata and Kenitra dedicated to freight along the existing KenitraRabat-Casablanca line ; and (ii) upgrading and partial double tracking works on 40km between Settat and Marrakech on the Casablanca-Marrakesh line.