Morocco has taken another step in its plan to improve public transport before the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The National Railways Office (ONCF) has launched a tender to build nine new stations for Casablanca’s future Regional Express Network (RER). The project is worth more than 400 million Moroccan dirhams and is part of a wider railway upgrade across the country.
The work is divided into two lots.
The first covers Mohammedia Facultés, Zenata Industrielle, Sidi Bernoussi and Ain Sebaa. These stations will improve links between Casablanca’s northern industrial areas, university districts and the city centre.
The second includes Hay Mohammadi, Mers Sultan, Casa Oasis and Sidi Maarouf, connecting busy commercial areas and the Sidi Maarouf business district.
The new RER network will connect with Casablanca’s tramway and Busway, making it easier for people to travel across the city and nearby areas.
ONCF plans to run trains every seven minutes and 30 seconds during rush hour when the network is fully operational before 2030.
The railway operator expects the Casablanca Settat RER to carry about 180,000 passengers a day by 2030. That is between 41 million and 53 million passenger journeys a year. ONCF also hopes the network will account for between 27% and 32% of regional passenger travel.
The new stations are designed as transport hubs rather than traditional train stops. They will include air conditioning, modern ventilation systems, shops, drop off areas and parking spaces to help passengers switch easily between trains, taxis and private cars.
The network will use modern Electric Multiple Unit trains instead of traditional locomotive-hauled trains. Some routes will use double-decker trains to carry more passengers.
ONCF says one RER train could replace about 1,300 cars on Casablanca’s busy roads.
The trains are designed for short regional journeys on the 92-kilometre network, with fast acceleration and frequent stops. Stations and trains will also have level boarding, making it easier for people with reduced mobility to get on and off while reducing waiting times at platforms.
The project is part of Morocco’s wider rail expansion, which also includes extending the Al Boraq high-speed line from Kenitra to Marrakech and upgrading more than 20 stations across the country as it prepares to host the 2030 World Cup.
