Morocco’s Railway Office (ONCF) has launched works on a critical section of the Kenitra-Marrakech High-Speed Rail (HSR) project, focusing on the segment between the Oasis station and the future Casa Sud station with an estimated cost of 373 million MAD, according to media outlet Le 360.
The project entails the excavation and the construction of two road bridges over the Casa Urban Highway and National Route RN1, as well as three railway bridges over Boulevard Fes, Boulevard El Quds, and RP 3011.
The railroad Kenitra-Marrakech has been designed to accommodate high-speed passenger trains, with a maximum speed of 350 km/h and an operational speed of 320 km/h for the Al Boraq trains.
High-performance (HP) trains will operate at a commercial speed of 220 km/h on selected sections between Sidi Ichou and the Rabat tunnel, as well as between Aïn Attiq and Zenata.
The project encompasses several components, including the HSR itself, connectivity to existing lines, upgrades to stations, improvements to terminal facilities, and the establishment of maintenance bases.
The HSR project will link the Kenitra maintenance base, the Rabat tunnel, Aïn Atiq, Zenata, and the new Nouaceur hub, extending to Marrakech.
The Casablanca rail by-pass will be dedicated exclusively to passenger use. New high-speed sections will diverge from the existing line at Bouskoura and continue south of the Nouaceur hub.
Connections to existing lines will be provided at various locations, including the Kenitra maintenance base, Rabat-Agdal, Aïn Sebaâ, Bouskoura, the Nouaceur hub, Berrechid, Settat, Benguerir, and Sidi Ghanem, before reaching the new Marrakech Palmeraie station.
The current stage of the project seeks to considerably improve rail connectivity and operational efficiency between Kenitra and Marrakech.