The national railway operator ONCF is planning a new surveillance system that will use artificial intelligence to improve security across its rail network by 2030. ONCF issued a tender on Tuesday, 8 September, worth an estimated 1.08m dirhams ($108,000). The contract is for a study to design the system and set its technical requirements.
The contract does not include the purchase of cameras or AI software. Those purchases could come later, once the plan is approved.
The system is expected to bring together security cameras, sensors, data systems and control centres. AI could be used to detect people entering restricted areas, objects on tracks, unattended luggage, overcrowding and other unusual activity.
The project comes as ONCF carries out a major expansion of the rail network.
The operator plans to spend 96bn dirhams on its railway programme through 2030. Some 53bn dirhams will go towards a new 430km high-speed line between Kenitra and Marrakech. Another 29bn dirhams will be used to buy 168 trains, while 14bn dirhams is set aside to upgrade the existing network.
The new trains will include 18 high-speed trains from France’s Alstom, 40 intercity trains from Spain’s CAF and 110 regional trains from South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem.
Work is also under way to expand the railway network around Casablanca. A section between Mohammedia and Nouaceur is being expanded to six tracks to handle different types of train services.
The wider programme includes new stations, about 600km of electrification and nine maintenance and technical centres.
ONCF has already been looking at the use of AI and digital systems for railway security. A railway security congress held in Rabat in December 2025 focused on artificial intelligence, digital technology and integrated surveillance systems.
The new plan is also being developed as work on the railway network affects passengers.
ONCF changed some train schedules in September to allow construction work to continue on the Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed line and around Casablanca.
Train services between Casablanca and Mohammed V International Airport have been suspended temporarily. Replacement buses are being operated by Supratours, an ONCF subsidiary.
Some regional services, including Casablanca-Settat, Casablanca-El Jadida and Khouribga-Berrechid, are also running with changes because of the construction work.
