Morocco Trains 2026: al Boraq Survival Guide (Prices & Schedules)

The national rail operator is called ONCF. Their website is shiny, but it hates foreign credit cards about 40% of the time. You might try to book, get an error message, and wonder if you have a ticket.

The Golden Rule: Buy your tickets at least 3 to 5 days in advance. Why? Because the price jumps.

• Early Booking (Al Boraq): A First Class ticket from Tangier to Casa might cost 150 MAD ($15).
• Same Day Booking: That same ticket is 280 MAD ($28).

If the website fails you, don't panic. Go to the station. But do not—I repeat, do not—wait in the long line at the counter. You will stand there for an hour behind a family buying tickets for twelve cousins. Look for the orange automated kiosks. They usually accept cards and have an English language option.

Insider App Tip: Download the ONCF Trafic app (not the booking app). This specific app shows you real-time delays and platform numbers. The booking site doesn't always show live delays.

If you want to secure your accommodation near the main stations (like Casa Voyageurs or Rabat Agdal), I always check Booking.com for deals within walking distance. You don't want to be hauling luggage across town at rush hour.

You don't need to memorize the whole timetable, but you should know the rhythm.

Al Boraq Frequency:

• Trains leave every hour on the hour (e.g., 8:00, 9:00, 10:00) from 6 AM until 9 PM.
• During peak summer months, they sometimes add trains at the half-hour mark (e.g., 8:30).

The Casa to Marrakech Route: This is the most popular route for tourists.

• Frequency: Every two hours.
• Duration: Approx 2 hours and 40 minutes.
• Price: roughly 130 MAD ($13) for 2nd Class, 180 MAD ($18) for 1st Class.

Note: If you miss the last train (usually around 8:50 PM), you are stuck until morning. There are no overnight sleeper trains on these main routes anymore.

I’m a guy who likes to save money for street food, but on Moroccan trains, I always book First Class.

Here is the math: The difference is usually only $5 to $10.

In Second Class: It’s a free-for-all. On the classic trains (Al Atlas), seats are not always assigned correctly. It is loud. You will hear three different people watching TikToks without headphones. Families share meals across the aisle, which is charming until a boiled egg falls on your shoe. If it is a holiday, you might be standing for three hours.

In First Class: You get an assigned seat. It is quiet. There is space for your legs. On Al Boraq, the First Class seats are massive red plush chairs that recline. It feels like business class on an airplane. It is the best $10 upgrade you will ever spend in your life.

If you are planning a longer trip, like the 6-hour haul from Casablanca to Ouarzazate (which involves a train and a bus connection), you absolutely need that comfort.

Morocco has invested billions in renovating stations. They are no longer dark, scary places.

• Rabat Agdal: This station is massive. It looks like a modern airport terminal. It has a huge glass roof, clean bathrooms, and a food court with a McDonald's and Starbucks if you need a taste of home.
• Casa Voyageurs: This is the main hub in Casablanca. It's older but functional. It has a Paul bakery where you can grab a decent sandwich.
• Marrakech Station: This is a stunner. It features beautiful white geometric latticework that casts cool shadows on the floor. It is right in the center of the new city (Gueliz).

Warning: The food on the train is overpriced and mediocre. A dry cheese sandwich for 40 MAD? No thanks. Buy your snacks at the station before you board. Grab water, grab a croissant, and get on board.

You arrive in Marrakech. You step out of the beautiful station into the bright sun. Suddenly, you are surrounded. "Taxi my friend? Good price!"

Listen to me carefully: Never take the taxis parked directly in front of the train station door. They will charge you 3x or 4x the normal rate. They wait there specifically for tourists who don't know better.

The Fix: Walk 100 meters to the main road. Just walk past them. Flag down a Petit Taxi (beige color in Marrakech, red in Casa, blue in Rabat). Ask them to turn on the meter ("Khouya, l'compteur?").

Better yet, use technology. Apps like Indrive work well here. You set the price on your phone, and the driver agrees before he picks you up. If you want zero stress and a guy holding a sign with your name, book a transfer via Welcome Pickups. It costs more, but after a long flight and train ride, it feels like luxury.

A lot of you ask me: "Assafy, does the train go to Essaouira or the desert?"

The answer is no. The tracks stop at Marrakech. But, the train company (ONCF) owns a bus company called Supratours.

If you buy a ticket to Essaouira, your train will take you to Marrakech. Then, you walk out of the station, turn right, and walk around the corner (down a small set of steps) to the dedicated Supratours Bus Terminal. It is literally a 2-minute walk. The bus waits for the train. It is a seamless connection, but only if you book it as one ticket.

Train travel in Morocco is the best way to see the country's spine. It’s safe, it’s cheap, and with Al Boraq, it’s incredibly fast. You get to watch the world go by without worrying about police checkpoints or aggressive drivers.

Just remember the main rules: book First Class, bring your own snacks, and ignore the taxi touts at the arrival gate.

If you want to book specific day trips once you arrive (like a trip to the desert from Marrakech), check GetYourGuide so you don't have to haggle in the souks. Safe travels, and enjoy the ride.