Tangier’s future RER moves into works phase between station and airport

The rail link project between Tangier Ville station and Ibn Battouta airport has reached a decisive stage, as ONCF launches an international prequalification process for the infrastructure works of the future Tangier RER project.

Tangier RER project: what to know

This new line is planned as the first component of a regional express transport network around Morocco’s northern metropolis. The national rail operator ONCF has issued a prequalified tender for major civil engineering and infrastructure works.

The contract is divided into three main lots, reflecting the specific features of each section, the urban areas crossed and the technical constraints of inserting a new rail line into an already dense city.

Roughly 22.5 kilometers long, the future line will be built as a double electrified track. It is designed to provide a direct connection between Tangier’s city center and Ibn Battouta airport, while serving growing residential and economic hubs along the way.

A route connecting key districts and facilities

Before this step, a study and design phase defined the route, required structures, rail connections and new stations. The line will cross the territories of Tangier Ville, Beni Makada, Aouama and Gzenaya.

Starting from Tangier Ville station, planned as the terminus of this first Tangier RER project section, the line will include several intermediate urban stops, notably near Mghogha and close to the Grand Stadium.

It will then continue towards a station serving the university hub (Faculties) before reaching its terminus by the new terminal building of Tangier Ibn Battouta airport.

The project aims to relieve road congestion on the main access roads to Tangier and to better connect fast-growing neighborhoods with major facilities such as the airport and the stadium.

What this means for Moroccans living abroad

For Moroccans who return home through Ibn Battouta airport, this project could significantly change travel habits in the coming years. Once operational, the new line will directly link the airport to Tangier Ville station, located in the city center and connected to the national rail network, including the high-speed line.

In practice, this should eventually offer:

• more predictable airport–city journeys, less dependent on road traffic;
• smoother connections with national trains, including high-speed services;
• a public transport alternative to taxis and car rental for short stays;
• better access for families living in districts served by the line.

For now, however, this first phase of the Tangier RER project does not change how Moroccans abroad book flights or trains. The current tender only covers infrastructure works, and no entry-into-service date has been made public.

A project to watch when planning future trips

Still, the launch of this operational phase confirms Morocco’s broader strategy to strengthen rail links between city centers and airports. In the medium term, better connections between air and rail infrastructure could simplify trip planning for Moroccans based overseas.

Until the line opens, travelers will continue to rely on existing options to reach Tangier’s city center from Ibn Battouta airport: taxis, buses, private shuttles or car rental. Practical information on flights and train timetables should be checked directly with operators such as airlines and ONCF before departure.

This initial section of the this case is part of a wider push to modernise urban mobility in the country. It is a development worth monitoring for those who regularly arrive and depart through Morocco’s northern gateway.

For your stays in Morocco, you can also consult Canal212’s guide to key procedures and paperwork for Moroccans living abroad.

For more context, readers can follow Canal212 news for Moroccans abroad.

For official updates, readers can check the relevant official source.