HIBAPRESS
The National Office of Railways implemented an exceptional organizational plan on the occasion of the 2025 African Cup of Nations to ensure the smooth movement of fans, teams, and officials, and to keep pace with the increased demand and effectively contribute to the success of this prominent continental event.
The National Office of Railways explained in a statement that this exceptional mobilization enabled the transportation of more than 250,000 fans between the host cities, by providing 251 additional trains to cope with peak periods. The statement added that more than 342,000 seats were provided in total, equivalent to 1,000 trains, with an average occupancy rate of 84 percent, noting that the office thus recorded unprecedented record numbers, as it transported in just one day more than 95,000 passengers via high-speed shuttle trains, and more than 25,000 passengers on board Al Boraq trains. To ensure smooth and easy movement for the public, the National Office of Railways adapted its offers by programming exceptional stops for 113 trains coming from the north and south of the Kingdom at the Rabat-Riad Al Jadida station, near the Moulay Abdellah complex, in addition to 74 trains at Sidi Brahim station in Marrakech, which was specifically prepared to accompany this event, thus contributing to enhancing railway accessibility to the stadiums. This mobilization resulted in a total increase in passenger traffic by 7 percent during the African Cup of Nations period. The same source highlighted that the National Office of Railways secured the movements of seven African national teams, along with officials and delegations of the African Football Confederation, as well as high-level official figures via Al Boraq and Atlas trains, and high-speed shuttle trains. On the field, the statement adds, the office has established an integrated system to manage passenger traffic within nine strategic stations 24 hours a day, seven days a week, supported by the establishment of a special operations center for the African Cup of Nations. The National Office of Railways actively participated in supporting the regional operations center for the city of Rabat, in close coordination with the authorities and all concerned parties, with the aim of ensuring optimal management of passenger flows, enhancing safety conditions, and improving the quality of information provided to passengers. The "100% Yalla CAN Digital Card" offer also received remarkableقبال, as 20,000 cards were sold, resulting in 85,000 trips, 46 percent of which were by international customers, and this success reflects the attractiveness of the train for foreign visitors. The statement confirmed that these achievements are also attributed to the pivotal role played by the human element, as more than 800 collaborators from the commercial, technical, and security teams, in addition to volunteers, were mobilized, with a 100 percent availability of equipment throughout the competition period, which enabled the provision of a smooth and safe service for all passengers. The statement concluded that the National Office of Railways, through this system, reaffirms the strategic role of rail transport in the success of major events, affirming its commitment to raising the level of sustainable and effective mobility, and enhancing the position of the Kingdom of Morocco at the continental and international levels.
