A 3.3-Kilometer Tunnel Under Construction in Rabat to Accommodate the Future High-Speed Train to Marrakech
The construction of the future Kénitra-Marrakech high-speed line has reached a new milestone in Rabat. A 3.3-kilometer railway tunnel is currently underway beneath the capital, designed to enable future high-speed trains to access the Rabat-Agdal station while minimizing the impact on existing surface traffic and infrastructure.
The work is being carried out by the Société générale des travaux du Maroc (SGTM), in partnership with the Chinese group Sinohydro Bureau 5. In a recent update regarding the construction, SGTM confirmed the progress of this strategic section, with an overall contractual timeline set at 42 months.
A subterranean structure designed for a dense urban environment
Spanning a total length of 3,300 meters, the tunnel will connect the Bouregreg Valley with the Rabat-Agdal station. Its design is based on several configurations to adapt to the urban and railway constraints of the area.
The main portion will consist of a two-lane monotube tunnel measuring 2,750 meters. This will be followed by an open section of 50 meters and then a covered trench with four lanes extending 500 meters as it approaches the Rabat-Agdal station.
This configuration is intended to integrate the new high-speed tracks into a particularly urbanized area, while preserving the functionality of existing railway infrastructure.
A contract worth over 1.4 billion dirhams
The contract for the construction of this facility was awarded by the National Office of Railways (ONCF) to the consortium formed by SGTM and Sinohydro Bureau 5. The project represents an investment of approximately 1.4 billion dirhams, according to the results of the tender published in 2024.
The initial major works on the tunnel began in 2025, following a phase dedicated to site establishment and preparatory operations.
The underground passage through Rabat is a key element in extending the high-speed line southward. It is expected to enhance the railway network’s capacity and better separate different train flows as they approach Rabat-Agdal.
A strategic link in the Kénitra-Marrakech high-speed line
This tunnel is part of a broad program to expand Morocco’s high-speed network, which aims to extend the Al Boraq network, currently operating between Tangier and Casablanca via Kénitra and Rabat, further south.
The future Kénitra-Marrakech high-speed line represents one of the major railway projects in the Kingdom, particularly in light of the upcoming 2030 World Cup.
However, the tunnel crossing through Rabat poses one of the significant technical challenges of the project. Teams must operate within a densely populated urban environment, close to currently active railway infrastructure.
Ultimately, the new structure will allow future high-speed trains to traverse a portion of the capital underground before arriving at Rabat-Agdal. Stretching 3.3 kilometers, it will thereby become one of the most important and iconic features of the forthcoming railway connection to Marrakech.
