Morocco king names first high-speed train in Africa "Al Boraq"

High-speed train, the first of its king in Africa, linking Casablanca with Tangier is expected to be operational at the end of 2018.

CASABLANCA – Morocco’s King Mohammed VI named the country’s first high-speed train (TGV) which will be operational at the end of 2018 "Al Boraq", in reference to a "fantastic winged mount," said Thursday the National Office of Railways (ONCF).

"Al Boraq", which is derived from the Islamic tradition, evokes "speed and travel," according to ONCF.

"Easily remembered, it reflects the sense and the values ​​culturally strong carried by an ambitious and colossal project," it added.

The project entered the pre-operation and break-in phase on June 19 in order to be tested under actual operating conditions.

“On May 4, the test train driven by a Moroccan railway worker reached the speed of 357 km/h between Tangier and Kenitra, thus establishing the speed record on railway lines within the African continent," said the public railways company.

ONCF said that the commercial offer was in the process of being finalised with a view to the commercial start of the project in the last quarter of 2018.

The project’s promoters said that the delivery, which was originally scheduled for late 2015, had been delayed due to lengthy expropriation procedures and the complexity of the project.

The high-speed line, the first of its kind in Africa, will link the economic capital Casablanca and the Tangier seaport via the administrative capital Rabat in just over two hours, reducing the normal journey by three hours.

Six million passengers are expected to use TGV after three years of operation.