WASHINGTON, June 9, 2025 – The World Bank's Board of Directors has approved a $350 million financing package for the Greater Casablanca Mobility and Logistics Hub, which aims to improve access to employment opportunities and essential services by increasing services for passenger railways in the Greater Casablanca area, considered the hub of the Moroccan railways network. Additionally, the program aims to bolster the planning and financial capabilities of Morocco's national railway operator - the Office National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF) - in managing and expanding railway infrastructure.
Morocco is experiencing rapid urbanization, with 60 percent of its population now residing in cities, a figure expected to increase to 70 percent by 2050. This growth, especially in the Casablanca-Settat region, a key economic driver, offers substantial development opportunities. Cities contribute significantly to Morocco's GDP and are a hub for investments and employment. Addressing key challenges such as constrained mobility for citizens living in suburban areas, traffic congestion, and vehicle-related pollution will enable Morocco's cities to deliver even more.
To address such issues, the Kingdom is expanding rail transport and public transportation infrastructure to improve accessibility and reduce environmental impacts, aligning with national goals for sustainable urban transport solutions. In the Greater Casablanca region, the "Service Intra-métropolitain Rapproché" (SIR) program is transforming railway services by upgrading and constructing train stations, as well as increasing high-frequency passenger rail transport. This initiative ensures key locations are accessible within 45 minutes, expanding opportunities for residents and businesses while promoting connectivity and reducing environmental impacts.
The World Bank's new financing initiative will support the SIR in establishing an electrified passenger rail service, connecting the urban center with suburban areas such as Zenata, Mohammedia, Nouaceur, and Bouskoura. The program will utilize a 73-kilometer brownfield right-of-way to expand track capacity and enhance existing rail infrastructure, including electrical systems and signaling, with a focus on climate resilience. This effort aims to alleviate congestion on existing lines and boost freight capacity to the port of Casablanca. Additionally, the program focuses on maintaining and upgrading infrastructure in the Casablanca-Settat region. It plans to construct or enhance 15 multimodal train stations, integrating Transit-Oriented Development strategies and universal accessibility features, and will improve logistics facilities in Greater Casablanca, concentrating on rail-centric logistics in Ain Sebaa and enhancing connectivity around a new logistics zone in Zenata.
"The World Bank's support will strengthen the governance and operational capacity of ONCF, supporting its long-term vision of transformation into a public limited company with a world-leading role in service delivery to customers," said Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye, Division Director for the Maghreb and Malta at the World Bank. "This strategic investment underscores a commitment to sustainable development and improved quality of life for all residents of Greater Casablanca."
By June 2031, the SIR program is expected to deliver substantial benefits, including improved access to sustainable transport infrastructure for over 560,000 residents. It will also enhance job accessibility, with a seven percent increase in workplace locations reachable by passenger rail services within 45 minutes. It will also improve access to critical services, with a 7.3 percent increase in service locations accessible within the same travel time using passenger rail services.
