EIB backs major upgrade of Morocco’s railway network

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Morocco’s national railway operator ONCF is set for a significant upgrade to its conventional rail network, as new European Investment Bank financing and technical support converge on projects aimed at improving safety, reliability and climate resilience across key corridors.

Fresh EIB funding targets core rail corridors

Recent announcements from European and Moroccan institutions indicate that the European Investment Bank is expanding its role in modernising Morocco’s railway infrastructure. A financing package unveiled in Rabat in late June 2026 includes a dedicated tranche for ONCF to rehabilitate sections of the national network, alongside a larger envelope for road infrastructure. Publicly available information describes the rail component as focused on renewing tracks, improving structures and raising safety standards along heavily used routes.

The new support builds on an existing EIB framework operation for “ONCF Rehabilitation Ferroviaire,” under which the bank is providing long-term loans to finance the renewal or rehabilitation of track, engineering works and electric traction facilities on selected sections of the network. Project documentation highlights the goal of improving connectivity, boosting the competitiveness of the Moroccan economy and supporting more reliable passenger and freight services on non–high-speed lines.

Reports from financial and infrastructure outlets note that the rail rehabilitation is designed to complement Morocco’s flagship high-speed line between Tangier and Casablanca by strengthening the conventional backbone that connects secondary cities and logistics hubs. By targeting bottlenecks, ageing assets and vulnerable structures, the programme aims to shorten journey times, reduce maintenance-related disruptions and improve overall service quality for both everyday commuters and long-distance travellers.

According to published coverage of the new lending agreements, the EIB financing is being paired with a grant from European Union instruments to reinforce the project’s focus on safety and resilience. The combined package is expected to support signalling and telecommunications upgrades, bridge and level-crossing improvements, and measures to reduce accident risks along priority sections of the network.

Climate resilience and adaptation move to the forefront

Alongside the fresh financing, the EIB and ONCF have entered into a technical assistance partnership that places climate resilience at the centre of the railway modernisation agenda. An agreement signed in October 2024 set out plans to develop a comprehensive climate adaptation strategy for Morocco’s rail network, drawing on EIB expertise and international best practice.

Official project descriptions state that the climate-focused technical support will feed directly into the rehabilitation programme now under way. Planned investments include flood protection at vulnerable sites, drainage improvements, and design adjustments to embankments and bridges to withstand more frequent episodes of heavy rainfall and extreme weather. These measures are intended to reduce service interruptions, safeguard infrastructure assets and improve the long-term reliability of rail services.

According to EIB climate and development communications, the partnership with ONCF forms part of a broader effort to align major transport investments with the objectives of the EU–Morocco Green Partnership. That initiative seeks to support low-carbon growth and climate resilience in key sectors, including mobility, through a mix of financing, grants and technical cooperation.

From a traveller’s perspective, the integration of climate adaptation into core rail investment could translate into fewer weather-related disruptions and a more predictable timetable over the medium term, particularly on routes prone to flooding or landslides. For cargo operators, enhanced resilience is expected to support more reliable supply chains linking ports, industrial platforms and inland logistics zones.

Modernisation supports national mobility and tourism goals

The renewed EIB engagement with ONCF is unfolding at a time when Morocco is expanding its transport ambitions. National planning documents and recent investment reports outline projects to extend the high-speed network toward Marrakech and later Agadir, as well as to develop express regional rail services around major urban hubs such as Casablanca and Rabat. Within this context, the conventional rail network remains a critical backbone for domestic travel and regional connectivity.

Transport sector analyses suggest that improving the performance of existing main lines is essential to support rising passenger numbers, especially ahead of major international events where Morocco expects to see a surge in tourism. Enhanced reliability and capacity on conventional routes can help distribute visitor flows beyond the main coastal corridor, making it easier for travellers to reach cities such as Fes, Meknes and Oujda by rail.

Tourism and business travel commentators also point to the potential for refurbished lines and upgraded stations to encourage a shift from road to rail on medium-distance routes. This could ease congestion on busy highways, cut travel times between regions and reinforce Morocco’s positioning as a destination where visitors can move comfortably between historic medinas, Atlantic beaches and interior landscapes using public transport.

For local communities, the expected improvements in service quality and safety may strengthen the role of rail in daily mobility. Enhanced signalling, better-maintained tracks and renewed structures can reduce delays and cancellations, offering commuters and students a more dependable alternative to long-distance buses or private cars.

Economic and environmental impacts of upgraded rail

Beyond passenger experience, the EIB-backed modernisation is framed as a driver of economic competitiveness and lower-carbon growth. Project summaries highlight that rehabilitated lines should facilitate more efficient freight movement between ports, industrial zones and agricultural regions, helping to reduce logistics costs and support export-oriented sectors.

The focus on electric traction installations within the rehabilitation programme reinforces Morocco’s efforts to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels in transport. As the national power mix incorporates more renewable energy, shifting both passengers and freight toward electrified rail can lower overall greenhouse gas emissions while reducing local air pollution along busy corridors.

Analysts following international development finance note that the Moroccan railway projects align with the EIB’s strategic roadmap, which prioritises sustainable transport and climate action. The bank’s cumulative commitments in Morocco have surpassed the ten billion euro mark, with a significant share channelled to infrastructure that supports greener mobility and regional integration.

In practical terms, the works financed under the current packages are expected to generate contracts for Moroccan engineering firms, construction companies and equipment suppliers. This local economic activity, combined with longer-term gains in connectivity and reliability, is being presented in public documentation as a way to enhance social and territorial cohesion, particularly in regions where rail provides a lifeline for access to jobs, education and services.

What travellers can expect in the coming years

While many of the rehabilitation works are spread over several years, rail passengers in Morocco are likely to notice progressive changes along key routes. Infrastructure-focused publications report that the EIB-supported programme involves phased renewals that may temporarily affect timetables but are intended to deliver smoother rides, quieter trains and more modern signalling once completed.

Observers of Morocco’s transport sector suggest that travellers should anticipate a gradual convergence between the experience on the high-speed Al Boraq line and that on upgraded conventional routes, particularly in terms of punctuality and comfort. Stations along rehabilitated sections may see ancillary improvements, including refreshed platforms, accessibility enhancements and better passenger information systems.

At the same time, authorities and project partners are expected to communicate in advance about any service disruptions linked to construction works, in order to allow passengers to adjust their plans. Over the medium term, the combination of infrastructure renewal, climate-resilient design and complementary investments in rolling stock is projected to underpin a more robust and attractive rail offer across much of the country.

For international visitors planning itineraries that combine major cities with lesser-known destinations, the continuing modernisation of Morocco’s railway network signals a growing range of practical, lower-carbon options. As EIB financing and technical assistance move from planning to implementation on the ground, the country’s rail renaissance is set to play a central role in reshaping how residents and tourists experience travel between its varied regions.