07-04-2025
Tangier Joins Morocco's Tramway Cities Ahead of 2030 World Cup
Doha – Tangier is set to become Morocco's fourth city with a tramway system, following a MAD 8.4 billion ($840 million) project announced this month.
The ambitious plan includes three lines spanning 25-30 kilometers, aimed at addressing FIFA's concerns about transportation infrastructure for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
The project brings together multiple stakeholders, including the Tangier Municipality, Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council, Northern Regions Development Agency, and the Ministry of Transport and Logistics.
Alstom Transport Morocco, whose director Thi Mai Tran recently met with city officials, will oversee implementation.
Financing will be split between international and domestic sources, with 65% coming from French public funds and the European Investment Bank, while Moroccan public funds will cover the remaining 35%.
The undertaking is a continuation of the country's expansion of its tramway network. In September 2024, Casa Transports launched lines T3 and T4, adding 26.5 kilometers and 39 stations to the city's public transport system.
The new lines operate from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with trains running every 10 minutes initially, planned to increase to 5-minute intervals.
This transportation initiative is also part of broader preparations for the 2030 World Cup. After receiving low scores in FIFA's December 2024 evaluation report – 2.2 out of 5 for accommodation and 2.6 for transportation – Tangier has accelerated its infrastructure development.
In January, Mayor Mounir Laymouri announced a MAD 1.124 billion ($112.4 million) investment in public transportation, including a high-quality urban bus transit line.
Meanwhile, the city's airport is undergoing a major overhaul. A MAD 3.27 billion ($327 million) expansion project at Ibn Batouta Airport seeks to triple passenger capacity from 2 million to 7 million annually by June 2029.
The revamp includes a new terminal, control tower, and aircraft parking areas across 199 hectares.
For Tangier's tramway project, preliminary plans indicate one line will connect the offshore zone near the TGV station to Moghogha and Béni Makada.
A second line will traverse the city along Boulevard Moulay Ismaïl, serving the Hassani district, sports city, Gzénaya industrial zones, and TFZ, while passing through Béni Makada, Souani, and the university area.
The project, which residents have anticipated since 2014, is intended to address urban transport challenges in this growing city of 1.1 million inhabitants, while meeting FIFA's requirements for the 2030 World Cup infrastructure. Tags: 2030 World CupPublic TransportationTangierTramway
