Morocco has bought a batch of used passenger train carriages from Italy as it looks to increase rail capacity and keep up with growing demand for train travel. The carriages were recently retired by Italy’s national rail operator, Trenitalia, as part of a fleet renewal programme.
Italian media reported that 11 carriages were seen leaving the Alessandria Smistamento rail yard before being transported to the port of Ravenna and shipped to Morocco. The purchase is part of a wider deal involving 22 carriages.
The coaches bought from Italy belong mainly to the UIC-Z1 and Gran Confort series, which were widely used on long-distance routes. They can operate at speeds of up to 200 km/h and are equipped with air conditioning, power outlets and noise-reduction systems for passengers.
Earlier this year, ONCF announced plans to buy 168 new trains from Alstom, CAF and Hyundai Rotem in a deal worth around $2.9bn. The order includes 18 high-speed trains, 40 intercity trains and 110 urban transport trains.
Passenger numbers on Morocco’s rail network have been rising sharply. In 2025, ONCF carried a record 55.6 million passengers and generated more than $500m in revenue. The Al Boraq high-speed service between Tangier and Casablanca carried 5.6 million passengers alone.
Morocco is also expanding its high-speed rail network. Work is underway on the 430-kilometre Kenitra to Marrakesh line, a project worth about $5.3bn. The line is around 30% complete and is expected to cut travel times between Tangier and Marrakesh from six and a half hours to three and a half hours.
The country plans to extend high-speed rail further south to Agadir in the future.
