Al Boraq and ONCF trains: the art of traveling light between Moroccan cities

Tangier–Casablanca in 2h10 at 320 km/h: Al Boraq, Morocco's high-speed train, has reshaped the geography of travel in the kingdom. Add the classic lines to Marrakech, Fez, Rabat or Meknes, and you get a complete itinerary without ever touching a steering wheel.The network at a glanceThe ONCF organizes the country around a high-speed axis Tangier–Kenitra extended toward Rabat and Casablanca, and comfortable classic lines to Marrakech on one side, Fez and Oujda on the other. The recent stations — Rabat-Agdal, Casa-Voyageurs, the spectacular Marrakech station — rank among the finest in Africa.Tickets can be bought online on the ONCF website and app, or at the station. In first class, your seat is guaranteed; in second class on the classic lines, aim for the morning trains to travel seated.The real constraint: luggageMoroccan rail is punctual and pleasant, but the luggage racks are sized for reasonable bags, not the XXL suitcase of a month-long trip. On Al Boraq, the space at the end of the carriage fills up fast; on the classic lines, you sometimes have to hoist your suitcase above the seats.Two seasoned-traveler strategies:1. The express stop without a suitcase. You're passing through a city for a few hours — visiting Rabat between two trains, a stopover in Casablanca? Drop your bags at a BoxSpot luggage storage near the station as soon as you arrive (online booking, from 9 MAD an hour, verified partner shops) and explore hands-free until the next train.2. The delayed check-out. Your train leaves at 6 pm, your riad turns you out at noon? Same move: storage in the morning, city in the afternoon, bags back before boarding — with a QR code and photos of your belongings for peace of mind.Three rail itineraries that workThe classic north–south: Tangier → Rabat → Casablanca → Marrakech. Al Boraq for the first half, classic line after. Each stage deserves a day or two, and each station has BoxSpot storage nearby.The imperial loop: Casablanca → Fez → Meknes → Rabat → Casablanca. The four imperial cities without a car, with the Saïss landscapes between Fez and Meknes as a bonus.The train + bus combo: the railway reaches neither Chefchaouen nor Essaouira — CTM and Supratours buses take over from Tangier or Marrakech. Keep the principle: the suitcase stays in storage, the excursion is done light.A few regular's tipsArrive 20 minutes before departure; the gates at the high-speed stations screen access. Al Boraq's café car serves a decent coffee — but the tea waits at arrival. And book your Friday and Sunday evening tickets in advance: all of Morocco is on the move on those days.