Though train travel in many parts of Africa is inconsistent and inefficient, the train system in Morocco is one of the continent’s best. It’s true that many people come to Morocco for trekking or to take guided tours through the imperial cities, but train travel offers a good opportunity to visit the country’s main sites independently with minimal energy and money.
Run by the Office National des Chemins de Fer, the country’s rails connect many of the main cities with two lines that run from the north to Marrakesh. The first rail line leaves from Tangier while the second departs from Oujda. They both cross paths in Sidi Kacem on their way to Marrakesh. There are tentative plans to extend the rail service with a high-speed TGV line from Tangier to Casablanca, but for now you’ll need to continue south by foot or public bus.
The trains of Morocco are comfortable and generally on time. A Morocco train schedule can help you plan ahead. And, while they are not high speed trains, they are quite fast. The prices for train travel is much more reasonable than bus fare. Snacks and beverages are available on board. Smoking is prohibited in the train compartments.
Train travelers should note that stations are not clearly identified. Pay close attention to the announcements on the train (which are given in French and Arabic) as they sometimes sound garbled. If you want a mini timetable, you can have one printed at the ticket office, but it will be in French. It may be easiest to print the entire train schedule before you leave home to keep on hand while you ride the rails.
You will find two different classes of trains in Morocco: the “rapid” and the “ordinary.” They will be listed as Train Rapide Climatise (TCR) for the rapid trains and Train Navette Rapide (TNR) for the ordinary. Rapid trains are used for most of the intercity service and the ordinary trains service late night and local areas. The rapid trains are generally more comfortable and provide air conditioning. They cost approximately 30 percent more than the ordinary trains, but most people would agree that they’re worth the extra cash. You will also find that there are two classes of seating on these trains. The first class seating has six seats per sitting area while the second class seats eight.
If you travel on the train overnight you can purchase a couchette, which are on the trains that run from Marrakesh to Tangier and from Oujda and Casablanca. The train compartments fold up into six bunks, and it is a worth the extra expense for a decent night’s sleep.
You can buy tickets on the train, but it is best to purchase them at the train station. You will be charged a supplement if you buy your tickets on the train. If you know when and where you’ll be traveling, you can purchase tickets up to a month in advance, which gives you an opportunity to reserve a couchette. Keep your tickets with you on the train as they will be checked during the ride and collected at the destination station.
In addition to one-time use tickets, long-term train passes are available for purchase and offer a discounted rate over multiple trips.
Posted by JoAnna Haugen, managing editor at Journey Beyond Travel and author of Kaleidoscopic Wandering.
Photo by OliverN5.
