ONCF

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Train in Casablanca
Train in Casablanca

ONCF or ONCFM (in French - Office National des Chemins de Fer du Maroc, National Office for Railways of Morocco) is Morocco's national railway operator. The Office employs around 9767 employees and has a network of 1 907 km, all 1 435 mm standard gauge. 1 003 km electrified (2006).[1]

Contents

[edit] History

The railways have been state-owned since 1963. ONCFM is now expected to be replaced by SMCF, a limited company.[2]

[edit] Operations

ONCF operates in three main sectors:

  • Passenger transportation; 23.5 million passenger-journeys (2006)[2]
  • Goods transportation; 35 million tonnes (2006)[2]
  • including phosphates transportation.

[edit] Planned high speed line

On September 2006 ONCF proposed a high-speed rail connecting Tangier to Marrakech which will reduce the time of the journey from around 10 hours to only 2 and half hours.[3] This service, if approved, may not be in operation until 2030. In 2007 Systra was appointed to design a 350 km/h alignment between Settat and Marrakech.[4]

In October 2007 French company Alstom announced it would supply 18 TGV Duplex trains to ONCF in 2008. The trains will run at 320 km/h between Tanger, Rabat and Casablanca.[5]

[edit] Other projects

Besides the high-speed link the company also develops other projects: new links, extending the reach southwards of Marrakech etc. One of the new links currently being built is a branchline from Taourirt to Nador. Currently this link is served by a coach-service connecting to the main-line Casablanca to Oujda. The new line should open in 2010 or 2011 and building is well underway.

[edit] Affiliations

ONCF is a member of the following organizations:

[edit] External links

[edit] References and notes

  1. ^ The World Factbook. CIA.
  2. ^ a b c Mohammed Rabie Khlie (August 2007). Rail renaissance takes a major step forward. Railway Gazette International.
  3. ^ Morocco plans Arab world’s first high-speed train. Khaleej Times Online (2006-09-15).
  4. ^ TGVs to Marrakech. Railway Gazette International (April 2007).
  5. ^ Morocco to order Duplex TGVs. Railway Gazette International (2007-10-23).
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