ONCF High-Speed Rail

ONCF High-Speed Rail

In September 2006 ONCF proposed a high-speed rail connecting Tangier to Marrakech which will reduce the time of the journey from around 10 hours to only 3+1⁄2 hours. This service, if approved, may not be in operation until 2035. In 2007 Systra was appointed to design a 350 km/h alignment between Settat and Marrakech.

This first part of the Atlantique high-speed link will open in 2015. When operational trains with a capacity of 500 passengers will run every hour and even every 30 minutes in the rush-hour. The CEO of the ONCF, Mohammed Rabie Khlie, expects to carry 8 million passengers per year. The high-speed network should be available for the average Moroccan citizen.

In December 2010, a contract was signed with Alstom to provide 14 trainsets based on the TGV Duplex.

ONCF Electrified Lines

The network that will carry the high-speed-network, from Tangier via Fes to Rabat and Marrakech are currently already electrified. The lines to the east of Fes are diesel powered only and the majority of the track is single: opposite trains pass each other at selected train-stations.

ONCF Investments

For the Tangier-Casablanca line the ONCF will invest 20 billion Moroccan dirham (approx. US$2.5 bln.). Half of this money is needed to construct the track. From the other half 5.6 bln. dirham is needed for technology around the tracks and the remaining 4.4 bln. is needed for the rolling stock.

The funding of this project is coming from the state (4.8 bln. dirham), one billion from the Hasan II fund for social and economic development. France and the rest of Europe will donate some 2 billion dirham. The remaining 12.3 billion dirham is funded via loans under favourable conditions

ONCF Other Projects

Besides the high-speed link discussed above, the company is also developing other projects, including new rail links and extending the network's reach southwards of Marrakech. One of the new links recently being constructed is a branch line from Taourirt to Nador. On 10 July 2009 king Mohammed VI of Morocco opened the two new railway stations in Nador and the line to Taourirt

ONCF Affiliations

ONCF is a member of the following organizations:

• International Union of Railways (UIC)
• Arab Union of Railways
• Comité du Transport Ferroviaire Maghrebin (CTFM).

ONCF Rolling Stock

In December 2019 and according to a 2018 agreement, ONCF received the first Prima M4 electric locomotives of 30 more units that will be delivered by Alstom.

ONCF Overview

ONCF Headquarters: 8, rue Abderrahmane El Ghafiki, Rabat - Agdal
ONCF Reporting Mark: ONCF
ONCF Locale: Morocco
ONCF Dates of Operation: 1963–present
ONCF Predecessor: Compagnie des chemins de Fer du Maroc ("CFM"), Compagnie franco-espagnole du chemin de fer de Tanger à Fès ("TF")
ONCF Track Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
ONCF Length: 2,067 km (1,284 mi)