Morocco eyes massive railway expansion reaching the Sahara

The National Railway Office is poised to implement a comprehensive “Strategic Master Plan by 2040” to ensure that railways cover the entire country.

Feasibility studies are being conducted to explore the future railway link between Agadir and Laayoune as a part of this ambitious initiative. 

During a session focused on railway expansion, the Minister of Transport and Logistics announced that this initiative is part of a larger strategy to improve infrastructure in Morocco’s southern provinces, which have seen notable development since 2015. 

The attainability studies aim to determine the railway’s route and estimate the financial and technical requirements.

Currently, the focus is on completing the high-speed train “Al Boraq” project that will connect Kenitra to Marrakech, with plans to extend it to Agadir and eventually to Laayoune.

Connecting major cities in the Sahara to central and southern Morocco, as suggested by experts, will significantly boost regional development.

In addition, the ongoing infrastructure projects are expected to enhance investment opportunities and contribute to integrating southern provinces into the national economy.

This move is anticipated to open up new avenues for investment and job creation, addressing social challenges and improving living standards in the southern regions.

Since King Mohammed VI launched a specific development model in Laayoune in 2015, the region has seen significant projects, including a fast road from Tiznit to Dakhla, the Atlantic Dakhla Port, desalination plants, land reclamation projects, and advancements in education and healthcare.

By developing the Atlantic coast and improving infrastructure in the southern regions, this railway extension enhances the strategic importance of these areas.

They serve as Morocco’s gateway to the African continent and the Sahel region, supporting a diverse range of economic activities including mining, fisheries, agriculture, pastoralism, and tourism.

The decision to extend the railway to Laayoune is seen as a strategic move within the southern regions’ development program, which has an investment of 8 billion dollars.

This program includes the fast road between Tiznit and Dakhla and other infrastructure developments that have been ongoing since 2016.

The railway between Laayoune and Agadir will support comprehensive development, laying the groundwork for major projects that promise to boost the economies of the Sahara’s major cities.

This initiative underscores Morocco’s commitment to its development goals, undeterred by opposition from Algeria and the Polisario Front.

Morocco is moving forward with a comprehensive development plan under royal oversight, ensuring that the southern provinces are integrated into the national development strategy and that economic and investment momentum continues to grow in these key regions.