Thursday, November 21, 2019

Train travel

I like to travel by train and there is an extensive rail network in Morocco connecting all the major cities, and it is inexpensive, even for 1st class.

From The Blonde Abroad website:
In Morocco, it’s easiest to buy your train tickets in person. You can get information on timetables and prices on the ONCF website, then just head to the nearest train station to book your tickets. Be sure to bring cash! You might be able to use your credit cards, but don’t count on it. The Rome2Rio website is very good for find connections between cities.

Most train routes run regularly so it’s rare to have every seat sold out, but it’s good to book in advance if you want to guarantee your spot. The stations are always centrally located and you can buy tickets a few weeks in advance, so just grab ‘em whenever it’s handy.

For night trains, you’ve got a choice of sleeper cars. A four-bed couchette costs Dh370 ($38 USD), a single compartment is Dh480 ($50 USD), and a double compartment is Dh690 ($70 USD). Considering it covers your travel and accommodation for the night, it’s super affordable.

Route
Travel Time
Tangier to Casablanca
 6 hrs
Tangier to Marrakech (Overnight train)
10 hrs
Rabat to Fes (Fez)
 2 hrs 30 min
Casablanca to Fes (Fez)
 4 hrs
Casablanca to Casablanca Airport
32 min
Marrakech to Casablanca
 3 hrs 10 min
Marrakech to Fes
 7 hrs 10 min
Marrakech to Rabat
 4 hrs 15 min


Map of the regular train service routes and stations:
Click to enlarge