The African Development Bank approved a loan worth 205 million euros (about 234 million dollars) to Morocco with the aim of supporting the expansion of the high-speed train network and modernizing the railway infrastructure, saying that the financing aims to “enhance the carrying capacity and operational performance on the Kenitra-Marrakesh axis, which accounts for a large share of passenger and freight traffic in Morocco.”
The loan comes as part of a broader Moroccan plan to invest in railways, as Rabat intends to pump about $10 billion to expand inter-city and urban train networks, including the establishment of a high-speed line reaching Marrakesh, before Morocco hosts part of the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
The new high-speed train line extends from Kenitra on the Atlantic coast to Marrakesh in the south, with a length of 430 km, passing through the capital, Rabat, and the city of Casablanca, enhancing the connection between the most prominent economic and tourist centers in the country.
In April 2025, Morocco launched a major expansion plan in the railway sector worth approximately 96 billion dirhams, which includes extending the high-speed train network to Marrakesh, purchasing new trains, and expanding railway connectivity to serve a greater number of cities by 2040.
These investments fall within Morocco’s preparations to host the 2030 World Cup, but they also carry broader economic goals, related to improving connectivity between major cities, reducing travel time, alleviating pressure on roads, and supporting the tourism, services and industry sectors.
The Kenitra-Marrakesh axis is of particular importance, because it connects the north and center of the country with its tourist south, and passes through Rabat and Casablanca, which are two of the densest cities in terms of business traffic, daily transportation, and connectivity with ports and airports.
