# Getting around Morocco: Al Boraq, trains and drivers

The Al Boraq high-speed train links Tangier and Casablanca in 2 h 17; Marrakech and Fes are then reached by conventional train, and the high-speed line to Marrakech is due in 2029. For the Deep South, the desert, Chefchaouen or Essaouira, which the train does not serve, you travel by car with a driver.

Source : https://sabaro-travel.com/en/guides/getting-around-morocco/

## Al Boraq, the high-speed line

Al Boraq is the high-speed line of ONCF (Office national des chemins de fer, Morocco's state rail operator). It has linked Casablanca and Tangier over 323 km since November 2018, at 300 km/h, in double-deck trains with a café-bar.

- **Stations**: Tanger Ville, Kénitra, Rabat Agdal and Casa Voyageurs. In Rabat, the train stops at Rabat Agdal; Rabat Ville station is served by conventional trains.
- **Departures from Tangier**: hourly from 6:00 to 19:00, then at 21:00 local time (Morocco has been on GMT all year since 20 September 2026).
- **Journey times**: Tangier-Rabat 1 h 20; Tangier-Casablanca 2 h 17.

**Fares**, varying with booking date and flexibility, in Moroccan dirhams (MAD):

| Route | 2nd class | 1st class |
|---|---|---|
| Tangier-Casablanca | 99 to 224 MAD | 129 to 292 MAD |
| Tangier-Rabat | 89 to 172 MAD | 129 to 224 MAD |

All seats are reserved. First-class tickets give access to the Al Boraq lounges at Tanger Ville, Kénitra, Rabat Agdal and Casa Voyageurs.

**Tanger Ville station** is a recent building set back from the far end of the seafront: allow 30 to 35 minutes on foot from the port or the medina, or a petit taxi for about twenty dirhams.

## Marrakech and Fes by conventional train

Al Boraq stops at Casablanca and Kénitra. Conventional trains, called Al Atlas, run Tangier-Meknes-Fes and Fes-Meknes-Rabat-Casablanca-Marrakech.

| Route | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Tangier-Fes, change at Kénitra (Al Boraq then Al Atlas) | about 3 h 25 | |
| Tangier-Fes, direct train | 4 h 13 | |
| Tangier-Marrakech, change at Casa Voyageurs | about 5 h 14 | 186 to 338 MAD in 2nd, 249 to 472 MAD in 1st |
| Fes-Marrakech, direct train | about 6 h 30 | |

**The two classes on Al Atlas trains** are quite different. First class has air-conditioned 6-seat compartments, sometimes an open saloon, with an allocated seat: it can sell out on busy days. Second class, in air-conditioned 8-seat compartments, has no seat allocation. On long journeys, Sabaro recommends first class, booked in advance.

**Between Casablanca and Rabat**, fast double-deck shuttles run hourly, in unreserved second class: you sit where you like.

**Tangier-Marrakech night train**: departs 23:25, arrives 9:01 local time. Only first-class couchettes remain, in 4-berth compartments. They cannot be booked online: they are booked up to 2 months ahead through an agency.

## Booking and travelling

- **Tickets**: on oncf-voyages.ma, ONCF's website, which has an English version; booking opens 3 months before departure. The site accepts most foreign cards; Tanger Ville station accepts bank cards and cash.
- **Fares**: non-changeable tickets bought in advance are the cheapest; at the last minute, only the flexible fare remains.
- **Timetables**: works on the high-speed line to Marrakech regularly change services around Casablanca. A new timetable came into force on 14 September 2026, with the gradual closure of Casablanca suburban stations including Casa Facultés and Casa Nassim. Check your train on the ONCF website the day before departure.

## High speed to Marrakech

The Kénitra-Marrakech high-speed line, about 430 km long, is under construction. In May 2026, the Transport Minister reported it 30% complete, with delivery planned for September 2029. Tangier-Marrakech should then take about 3 h 30, and a station will serve Casablanca's Mohammed V airport, 55 minutes from central Marrakech. A 230 km extension to Agadir is being studied.

## Where the train does not go: car with driver

The rail network ends at Marrakech in the south. Chefchaouen, Essaouira, Agadir, Ouarzazate, the Draa valley and Merzouga are reached by road. For these stages, Sabaro recommends a car with a driver: the driver knows the mountain roads, avoids night driving, and you can enjoy the scenery of the Tizi n'Tichka pass or the road of the kasbahs.

If you drive yourself, the Driving in Morocco guide covers the licence, the rules and the routes that call for care. The most exposed are Casablanca-Marrakech and Casablanca-El Jadida, the descent of the mountain motorway towards Agadir, and secondary roads in the Rif at night.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I take the high-speed train from Tangier to Marrakech?

Partly. Al Boraq runs to Casablanca; you change at Casa Voyageurs for a conventional Al Atlas train. The full journey takes about 5 h 14. The high-speed line to Marrakech is due in September 2029.

### How do I buy a train ticket in Morocco?

On oncf-voyages.ma, ONCF's website, up to 3 months before departure, or at the station. Night-train couchettes are booked through an agency.

### First or second class?

On Al Boraq, both classes have reserved seats. On conventional Al Atlas trains, only first class allocates a seat: it is recommended for long journeys such as Fes-Marrakech.

### Does the train go to Chefchaouen, Essaouira or Merzouga?

No. The rail network serves cities including Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Meknes, Fes and Marrakech. For Chefchaouen, Essaouira, Agadir, Ouarzazate and the desert, you take the road, preferably with a driver.