Morocco: Difference between revisions

Jump to navigationJump to search
m Trams: format
Obscure services moved to their own page; Navbox added.
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Category:Countries in Africa]][[Category:Countries]]
==Country Details==
==Country Details==
Name: Morocco  (Maroc)<br>
Name: Morocco  (Maroc)<br>
Line 86: Line 84:


The new railway from Taourirt to Beni Ksar Port was officially opened by King Mohammed VI on 10 July 2009, along with the two new stations at Nador, the major city on the line. Trains initially went past Nador Ville (the main station) to a small station at Beni Ksar Port, also known as Beni Ansar / Aït Nsar Port. From an unknown date trains terminated at Nador Ville, but trains have continued to Beni Ansar Ville station, short of the port area, since at least June 2022.
The new railway from Taourirt to Beni Ksar Port was officially opened by King Mohammed VI on 10 July 2009, along with the two new stations at Nador, the major city on the line. Trains initially went past Nador Ville (the main station) to a small station at Beni Ksar Port, also known as Beni Ansar / Aït Nsar Port. From an unknown date trains terminated at Nador Ville, but trains have continued to Beni Ansar Ville station, short of the port area, since at least June 2022.
==Obscure and Sparse Passenger Services==
===Taourirt avoiding line MA1===
Entry deleted - service withdrawn
===Sidi Kacem avoiding line MA2===
Entry deleted - service withdrawn
===Sidi Yahya El Gharb – Mechraa Bel Ksiri MA3===
This 27km cut-off - west of Sidi Kacem - is used (instead of the triangular junction at Sidi Kacem) by passenger trains Casa Voyageur (Casablanca) ⇔ Tanger (Tangiers) which do not call at Sidi Kacem. ''Reported: March 2013''
==Sparse services==
* The branch [Casa Voyageurs] - Sidi el Aidi - Khouribga - Oued Zem has just one train pair daily between Khouribga and Oued Zem, arriving late at night and returning early in the morning.


==Special Notes==
==Special Notes==
The line from Oujda to Maghnia in Algeria has been closed for political reasons for some years, so Morocco has no rail connections to other countries.
The line from Oujda to Maghnia in Algeria has been closed for political reasons for some years, so Morocco has no rail connections to other countries.
Beni Nsar Port station is only 150 m from the border with the Spanish enclave of Melilla, which has a ship connection to Almeria. Beni Nsar Port has ship connections to Almeria and Sete (France).
Beni Nsar Port station is only 150 m from the border with the Spanish enclave of Melilla, which has a ship connection to Almeria. Beni Nsar Port has ship connections to Almeria and Sete (France).
==Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services==
See [[Morocco - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services]].
==See also==
{{Navbox Morocco}}
[[Category:Countries in Africa]][[Category:Countries]]

Revision as of 20:41, 1 November 2024

Country Details

Name: Morocco (Maroc)
Language: Arabic and French
Currency: Moroccan Dirham (MAD)

National railway system

ONCF - Office National des Chemins de Fer du Maroc

UIC code

Numeric 93; alpha MA

Timetable

Note that a special timetable is in effect for the month of Ramadan which, as its dates depend on the lunar cycle, is not at the same time each year.

Journey Planner

https://www.oncf.ma/en/

The website may show a timetable which supposedly finished weeks earlier.

Downloadable Timetable

https://www.oncf.ma/en/Travelers/Relation-client/Downloads

https://www.oncf-voyages.ma/telechargement-des-horaires

Note that the online version omits some useful notes which are in the printed version. The timetable may often continue out of the nominal date range until superseded.

Printed Timetable

A large sheet version of the timetable is kept 'under the table' at main stations, which can be viewed by those persistent enough to ask. It shows all services, but not some of the minor halts. It contains notes which are missing from the online version.

Summary timetables are available in some editions of the European Rail Timetable.

Engineering Information

None

Maps

Ticketing

A site is now available for on line ticket purchase.

The Seat61 website > Travelling by train in Morocco gives useful information on travelling in Morocco. Note the Moroccan Rail Pass, which could be bought from ticket windows at major stations using an application form downloaded from the ONCF website is no longer available.

Infrastructure

Gauge

Standard

Electrification

3 kV DC except for the Tanger - Kénitra high speed line, which is 25 kV AC. All passenger lines are electrified except for the routes east of Fes to Oujda and Beni Nsar Port.

750 V DC for tramways.

Rule of the road

Left

Other Railways

None

Tourist Lines

The Oriental Desert Express operated by -Supratravel forms part of a holiday package running (usually) at least once a year which starts in Oujda and travels the approx. 300km freight line from Beni Oukil to Bouarfa. The train is also available to charter. The journey is a full day, with passengers returning to Oujda by coach or by a sleeping carriage on the return journey.

Metro

None.

Trams

  • Rabat - Salé. Revenue earning services started on 23 May 2011.
  • Casablanca. Revenue earning services started on 12 December 2012.

Websites are in French.

Recent and future changes

Public services on Casablanca tram routes T3 [14 km] and T4 [13 km] began on 23 September 2024 after an extended period of trial running over the summer.

Morocco’s first high speed line, between Tanger and Kénitra and originally planned to open in December 2015, is due to be handed over for the start of trial running in June 2018, when the stations have been completed. Tracklaying was completed in October 2017 and the catenary in November 2017. The electrification system was energised at the beginning of January 2018 and the signalling commissioned in February 2018. This 200 route-km section is the first phase of the planned Tanger – Casablanca high speed line. The trains will then run on the upgraded line from Kenitra to Casablanca, and construction of a third, parallel track, for freight was announced along with the other upgrading plans in September 2012. Tanger Ville station was closed temporarily, possibly from 7 January 2015, for high speed line works and all services terminated at Tanger Morora.

Services commenced on 29 December 2019

A new railway line opened on 17 June 2009 between a triangle immediately south of Tanger Morora and the huge new port of Tanger Med. In early 2013 a sparse passenger service of 2 trains per day was scheduled on the branch as far as Ksar Sghir. Regular services between Tanger Ville and Tanger Med commenced on 15 June 2013 but soon ceased due to lack of demand. There have been no services for several years.

November 2012 saw the launch of the first phase of a project to double the Settat to Marrakech line, build a new station at Benguerir, and construct a 2 hectare ‘dry port’ at Sidi Ghanem on the outskirts of Marrakech.

In 2010 a new 27km cut-off between Sidi Yahya El Gharb and Mechraa Bel Ksiri allowed trains from Casablanca to Tanger to avoid the longer route via Sidi Kacem.

The new railway from Taourirt to Beni Ksar Port was officially opened by King Mohammed VI on 10 July 2009, along with the two new stations at Nador, the major city on the line. Trains initially went past Nador Ville (the main station) to a small station at Beni Ksar Port, also known as Beni Ansar / Aït Nsar Port. From an unknown date trains terminated at Nador Ville, but trains have continued to Beni Ansar Ville station, short of the port area, since at least June 2022.

Special Notes

The line from Oujda to Maghnia in Algeria has been closed for political reasons for some years, so Morocco has no rail connections to other countries. Beni Nsar Port station is only 150 m from the border with the Spanish enclave of Melilla, which has a ship connection to Almeria. Beni Nsar Port has ship connections to Almeria and Sete (France).

Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

See Morocco - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services.

See also