Kénitra-Marrakech high-speed line: target opening September 2029, and how to travel until then

"Does the high-speed train go to Marrakech?" It is one of the questions we hear most from travelers planning a Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech loop. The short answer is no, not yet. Work on the Kénitra-Marrakech high-speed line is moving, and the government has given a target date. Here is what has been officially announced, what the works already change, and how to make the trip today, with or without a suitcase.

What has been officially announced

Speaking in the House of Representatives on 25 May 2026, minister Abdessamad Kayouh said the Kénitra-Marrakech high-speed line "should be put into service in September 2029", according to Le Brief. The other figures given that day:

• Length: about 430 km between Kénitra and Marrakech.
• Progress: close to 30% of the works done at the end of May 2026.
• Target journey time: Rabat-Marrakech in 1h40, against about 4 hours today.
• What comes next: feasibility studies for an extension to Agadir are finished, but that section has no opening date.

Works were launched in April 2025 at Rabat-Agdal station. According to the Moroccan press, the line and its infrastructure come to about 53 billion dirhams, within a wider rail programme of about 96 billion. The detailed list of future stations and their timetables had not been published in the sources we checked, so be wary of sites already quoting station-by-station journey times.

How far along are the works?

ONCF's last detailed progress report, relayed in April 2026 by FNH, said land acquisition was complete, nearly 20 million m³ of earthworks had been done and 15 viaducts were under construction, along with three covered trenches near Casablanca airport, at Zenata and at Aïn Atiq. Track-laying had started on several sections, and work on all stations was due to begin by July 2026.

As of late October 2026, we found no newer official completion figure than May's. So keep this in mind: September 2029 is a target announced by the government, not a ticket sale date. ONCF bookings open a few months ahead at most, so nobody can book a high-speed train to Marrakech today.

What the works already change for you

While you wait for high speed, the works sometimes disrupt today's trains. From 21 to 23 April 2026, for example, Al Atlas trains to Marrakech terminated at Sidi Ibrahim, with coaches for the rest of the way. In the Casablanca area, a modified transport plan has applied since 14 September 2026 because of the high-speed works, with changed timetables and the gradual closure of Facultés and Ennassim stations, according to ONCF as reported in the press.

Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech: the trip today

The usual route takes two trains:

1. Al Boraq from Tanger-Ville to Casa-Voyageurs, stopping at Kénitra and Rabat-Agdal. This is the only high-speed section.
2. Al Atlas from Casa-Voyageurs to Marrakech. Travel guides give about 2h40 on direct trains, but the time varies by train and with the works: check the exact timetable when you book.
3. From Rabat, the minister himself puts today's journey to Marrakech at about 4 hours.

Coming from Fès, the idea is the same with a change in Casablanca or Rabat: our guide Fès-Marrakech by train with a stop in Casablanca sets out the options. For how ONCF trains and Al Boraq work in general, read Al Boraq and ONCF trains: traveling light between cities.

Where to leave your bags along the line

A connection of several hours in Casablanca, half a day in Rabat between two trains, a last day in Marrakech after check-out: these are the BoxSpot points along this route.

• Tangier: Anabelle Para Plaza de Toros, about 1 km from Tanger-Ville station, open daily from 3pm to 10pm; and RS Valises Gran Teatro Cervantes, near the Grand Socco, open daily from 11am to 11pm.
• Rabat: Saberbest Place de Russie, about 1.3 km from Rabat-Ville and 8 to 10 minutes by petit taxi from Rabat-Agdal, open from 9am to 10pm (the hours on the booking page are the reference).
• Casablanca: Troplo Coffee Casa Voyageurs, about a 17-minute walk from Casa-Voyageurs, open Monday to Friday 7am to 10pm, Saturday 7am to 7pm and Sunday 10am to 6pm.
• Marrakech: Bazar Posterre Medersa Ben Youssef, in the north of the medina (closed on Sunday), and Salon de coiffure Bab Aghmat, just outside Bab Aghmat, open daily from 9am to 5pm. From Marrakech station, take a petit taxi.

There is no BoxSpot point in Kénitra. To see every point on a map, use the BoxSpot explorer. At drop-off you show your booking, the partner scans your QR code and takes a timestamped photo of your bags; they are only handed back against that same QR code.

Two price examples

A 5-hour connection in Casablanca

You arrive from Tangier on Al Boraq around 11am and your Al Atlas to Marrakech leaves in the late afternoon. You leave two suitcases at Troplo Coffee for 5 hours and explore the centre. Price: 5 hours x 9 MAD x 2 bags = 90 MAD.

Last day in Marrakech

Check-out at 11am, evening train. You leave one suitcase at Bazar Posterre from 11am to 6pm, on any day but Sunday. Seven hours at 9 MAD would come to more than 59 MAD: an hourly booking is capped, so you pay 59 MAD for the day. A second bag costs 49 MAD that day.

Payment is online, in dirhams, by card.