Morocco's Al‑Boraq high‑speed rail hailed as Africa's first and only
The Al‑Boraq line, operated by Morocco's National Office of Railways (ONCF), is the continent's first and only high‑speed railway. It links Casablanca and Tangier in 2 hours 17 minutes, cutting the previous five‑hour journey by more than half.
The 323‑kilometre route was built with 286 engineering structures and 13 major bridges, including the 3.5‑kilometre Vadi Al‑Hashef bridge that spans flood‑prone terrain. The project cost is reported to be among the lowest for high‑speed rail worldwide, aided by the use of four existing stations instead of new construction.
International partners – the French national railway company SNCF and engineering giant Alstom – provided technical expertise. The line is described as the first phase of a 1,500‑kilometre high‑speed network slated for completion by 2030, with planned extensions to Rabat‑Qenitra, a regional rapid‑rail system around Casablanca, and a new line linking Casablanca, Marrakech and Agadir. The development is highlighted as part of Morocco's infrastructure upgrades ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Entities: Alstom · Al‑Boraq high‑speed rail · Morocco · Office National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF) · SNCF
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Al‑Boraq is Africa’s first and only high‑speed rail line. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The line connects Casablanca and Tangier in 2 hours 17 minutes, previously taking about five hours. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Construction involved partnerships with the French national railway company SNCF and engineering firm Alstom. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The railway spans 323 km and includes 286 structures and 13 bridges, among them a 3.5‑km Vadi Al‑Hashef bridge. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The line is the first phase of a planned 1,500‑km high‑speed network to be completed by 2030. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The project is among the lowest‑cost high‑speed rail builds in the world. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Future extensions will link Casablanca‑Marrakech‑Agadir, add a line between Rabat and Qenitra, and create a regional rapid‑rail system in Casablanca. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Four existing stations were reused in the first phase, reducing the need for new stations. (All articles)