ONCF trains in Morocco
ONCF runs Morocco's railways, including Al Boraq — Africa's first high-speed line — which covers Tangier to Casablanca in 2 h 10. Trains serve the northern and Atlantic corridor (Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Fes, Meknes, Marrakech) but there is no rail line to Essaouira, Agadir, Chefchaouen or the desert. Fares run from about 100 MAD second class Casablanca–Marrakech to 300 MAD first class on Al Boraq.
For the Tangier–Rabat–Casablanca–Marrakech spine, the train is the best way to travel in Morocco: fast, comfortable, punctual and cheap. Al Boraq reaches 320 km/h between Tangier and Kenitra, and the classic intercity network links Fes and Meknes into the same system.
What the railway does not do is reach the places most visitors want next. Essaouira, Agadir, Chefchaouen, Ouarzazate, Merzouga and the Atlas valleys have no station at all, and even where trains run, they finish at a city-centre station rather than your riad.
This guide covers the routes, classes and typical fares, then sets out the practical part travellers usually search for afterwards: how to cover the last leg from the station.
Why book ONCF trains in Morocco with Bacharide
Al Boraq high-speed
Tangier to Casablanca in 2 h 10 at up to 320 km/h — book ahead for the cheapest fares.
Two classes
Second class is comfortable and air-conditioned; first class adds a reserved seat and more space.
No rail to the coast south
Essaouira, Agadir and Dakhla are coach or road only — Supratours or a private transfer.
Frequent Casa–Rabat
Trains run every 30 minutes on the busiest stretch of the network.
Airport link at CMN
Casablanca Mohammed V Airport has its own station on the Casa Voyageurs line.
Station to door
Every rail journey still ends with a taxi — or a pre-booked car waiting on the platform side.
Train vs private transfer in Morocco
| Route | Train | Private transfer | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tangier → Casablanca | 2 h 10, from 200 MAD | 3 h 30, fixed price | Train — hard to beat |
| Casablanca → Marrakech | 3 h, from 100 MAD | 2 h 30 door to door | Train solo, car for groups |
| Marrakech → Essaouira | No rail line | 2 h 30 door to door | Private transfer |
| Fes → Chefchaouen | No rail line | 3 h 30 door to door | Private transfer |
Fares are typical 2026 ONCF prices; private transfer prices are fixed per vehicle, not per person.
Where the trains do not go
There is no railway to Essaouira, Agadir, Taghazout, Chefchaouen, Ouarzazate, Aït Benhaddou, Merzouga or the Atlas mountain villages. For all of these you travel by road, either on a coach or in a private car.
This is the single most common surprise for first-time visitors who plan a Morocco itinerary around rail. Most trips end up as a hybrid: train along the Atlantic spine, private transfer for the coastal and mountain legs.
Getting from the station to your accommodation
Marrakech Gare is in Gueliz, roughly 3 km from Jemaa el-Fnaa; Casa Voyageurs is a 15-minute drive from the Corniche; Tangier Ville is a short ride from the kasbah.
Petit taxis are metered in theory and negotiated in practice. If you are arriving late, travelling with children, or heading into the medina where cars cannot reach the door, a pre-booked driver waiting on the platform side removes the last piece of friction.
ONCF trains in Morocco — frequently asked questions
Cover the legs the railway doesn't
Essaouira, Agadir, Chefchaouen, the Atlas and the desert — fixed-price private cars, booked in minutes.
Book your transfer