Rail transport in Morocco
Rail transport in Morocco is operated by the state Office National des Chemins de Fer ( ONCF ). Morocco is on the African continent include South Africa, Egypt and one of the few countries with a well- developed rail network.
History
The first railway in Morocco drove 1888 in Meknes in a park as a gift to the Belgian Government Sultan Moulay al -Hassan I. After the Act of Algeciras and the Franco-German agreement of 1911 created by the French protectorate numerous routes that due to military restrictions were carried out only as a narrow gauge railways with mostly a track width of 600 mm. They were converted to 1936 on standard gauge. Initially were French steam locomotives in use. From 1927 the electrification began with 3000 volts DC. The three private companies CFM ( Chemins de Fer du Maroc ), CMO ( Chemins de Fer du Maroc Oriental ) and TF (Tangier- Fez) were merged and nationalized after full Moroccan independence from France and Spain in early 1963 ONCF. 1984 the doubling between Casablanca and Rabat, and the rail network for TNR trains ( Trains Navettes Rapides ) were put into operation. Since 2000, many new buildings were made and route straightening. By 2008, the route Rabat and Fez was expanded two lanes. From Casablanca, a new line was built two lanes to El Jadida. Likewise was the two-lane expansion from Casablanca to Oued Zem. This was followed by new lines Tangier to Tangier Med and Taouirt to Beni Ensar and the re- opening of the route to Casablanca port. Similarly, the fleet of the ONCF was raised to French standard during this time ( as are generally all passenger trains air-conditioned). There was a clock traffic introduced and on numerous routes the number of trains was increased.
Railway network
The backbone of the railway network ( 1907 km length) is the distance from Oujda on the Algerian border about Fez and Casablanca to Marrakech, from which several spurs branch off. About 1000 km of railways are electrified.
Two TGV lines are planned for the high-speed network: from Tanger via Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech to Agadir and Rabat on Fez to Oujda. As the first track Tangier -Casablanca be commissioned in late 2015 in service, with between Tangier and Kenitra 320 km / h will be driven. On October 23 French President Nicolas Sarkozy 2007unterzeichnete during a state visit with Moroccan ministers a letter of intent to build the high-speed line between Casablanca and Tangier in Morocco. Alstom to supply 14 to TGV Duplex trains to ONCF.
In rail freight transport of phosphate to the ports on the Atlantic Ocean with about 27 million tonnes is significant.
Tram networks
After the inauguration of the new bridge " Hassan II" between the cities of Rabat and Salé by King Mohammed VI on 18 May 2011, the new bridge for the road transport and for tram available.
To celebrate the start of the tram Rabat-Sale, were held on three days ' open days ' and carried out demonstration runs. Since 23 May 2011, the regular passenger service in the new tram lines 1 and 2 ( Phase 1 ) is received.
The line 2 to be extended in the future.
Another tramway network in Casablanca was opened in December 2012.