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The new trains can reach a speed of 321 km at the hour. (AFP)
On November 15, 2018, Morocco marked the history of rail transport by inaugurating the first high-speed or high-speed train line of the continent connecting Casablanca to Tangier, the two economic centers of the kingdom on the Mediterranean coast, Radio France International, RFI reported. The project was commissioned by King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron.
With the development, the travel time between Casablanca and Tangier by normal train was reduced from five hours to two and a half hours, officials said. In the long term, the high-speed train line will be extended to connect the two cities south of Marrakech and Agadir. With a value of 2.3 billion euros (1,508.7 billion FCFA), the project lasted 8 years. Half of the funding came from France, while Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, the United Arab Emirates, provided the rest.
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According to an economist, Mehdi Fakir, the benefits of high speed rail transport are enormous. "This is not a luxury issue.Time is a major factor in business travel.The new line will facilitate travel between the two economic poles of Morocco," said Fakir. Cable News Network, CNN, announced that the two-story cars manufactured in France and used on the line had been tested last year. The new trains can reach a speed of 321 km at the hour.
Morocco expects trains to bring wealth and prestige to the country. But opponents claim that they are not needed because of the huge costs. Nevertheless, high-speed trains are part of a broader program of infrastructure development in Morocco. The country has the largest solar power station in the world and several major ports, designed to stimulate economic growth. Mohamed Rabie Khlie, managing director of the national rail operator, ONCF, said his goal was to receive six million passengers a year after three years of commercial activity, instead of three million currently.
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