A newly extended high-speed rail line will link three of Morocco's most spectacular cities
The development of high-speed rail lines has been booming in Europe and Asia recently, but we shouldn't forget about the strides being taken in Africa – specifically, in Morocco.
Over the last 20 years or so, the country has been making some major investments into its infrastructure, such as improving its road networks, expanding its airport capacity and with projects like the Tanger Med port, which is a major hub for trade between Africa, Europe and the Americas.
And now, Morocco is focusing on its railways. The country is home to the only operating high-speed railway system on the continent, the Al Boraq line between Kenitra and Tangier, which is now being given a 430km-long extension.
The high-speed line will become the longest in Africa, linking Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech. The project is the flagship portion of a wider $9.5 billion national railway plan, expected to cost around $5 billion. Also planned is the purchase of 168 next-gen trains, plus a new transit system in the three cities.
The railways are designed to have trains reach speeds of up to 350km per hour. That means that once it's launched, the extended line will connect Tangier and Marrakech in just two hours and 40 minutes, slashing current journey times by more than two hours. It will also connect the Moroccan capital of Rabat with Casablanca's Mohammed V International airport in just 35 minutes. Speedy, right?
But it's not just about faster travel. According to , the project will help ease congestion on existing trains and allow space for regional and commuter services, which in turn will reduce traffic and therefore air pollution – a problem affecting Casablanca in particular.
Then there's the economic benefits for Morocco. Thousands of direct and indirect jobs will be created thanks to the project and workers will gain significant technical skills. It will also improve connectivity between industries across the country, reduce carbon emissions and enhance living standards in cities.
What's not to love? Several West African countries have already hinted at plans to replicate this model, so stay tuned for all the latest information.
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