King Mohammed VI inaugurated the construction site of the high-speed line extension to Marrakech in Rabat, a project worth more than 5 billion euros, which is expected to be operational for the 2030 World Cup.

On Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Rabat, King Mohammed VI launched work to extend Morocco's high-speed rail line to Marrakech. This new link is part of preparations for the 2030 World Cup, co-hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, and is expected to boost travel between the northwest and the center of the country.

The cost of this phase is estimated at more than €5 billion, excluding the acquisition of rolling stock. In February, Alstom won a €781 million contract to supply 18 high-speed trains designed to cover the 430 kilometers between Kenitra and Marrakech in 2 hours 40 minutes, a gain of more than 2 hours compared to the current offering. For comparison, the first Tangier–Casablanca section, 350 kilometers long, has been in service since 2018.

The extension of the high-speed rail line was discussed during Emmanuel Macron's visit to Rabat in late October 2024, marking a strengthening of Franco-Moroccan cooperation. Laurent Saint-Martin, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, emphasized the importance of this project to AFP. "structuring", symbol of the transfer of expertise between France and Morocco within the framework of the business forum for the 2030 World Cup.

This project is part of a vast program of the National Railway Office (ONCF) with a budget of more than 9 billion euros: purchase of 168 trains for 2,75 billion, development of three metropolitan networks in Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech for around 1,3 billion.

As part of this, Spain's CAF will supply 30 intercity trains (with an option for ten more), and South Korea's Hyundai Rotem has secured a contract for 110 commuter trains. These investments complement the strengthening of hotel, road, telecom, and airport infrastructure in preparation for the 2030 World Cup.