MOROCCO IS ACCELERATING! feature - Alstom

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feature
Why has Morocco chosen a very
high-speed line between Tangiers
and Casablanca?
I would fi rst like to emphasise that this choice
was made after a great deal of refl ection,
and that it is a logical and natural feature
of our country’s rail development. For many
years now, in fact, passenger traffi c has seen
a two fi gure growth. Frequentation on the
Tangiers-Casablanca route – now saturated –
for instance, increased by more than 70%
between 2002 and 2010.
This new high-speed line will connect
two of the country’s major economic poles
in 2 hours 10 minutes compared with
4 hours 45 minutes today. We will be providing
services every hour compared with every
two hours today. Consequently,
the conventional line, freed of traffi c,
will be dedicated to freight and will be able
to meet the very substantial traffi c
demands between the port of Tanger Med
and Casablanca.
We are expecting a major transfer
of customers: the line’s current passengers
will be attracted by this new offer which
will bring them real added value in terms
of journey times, frequency and comfort.
Another detail: the train will be accessible
to almost everyone thanks to a modular
pricing policy. A yield management system
will take into account our customers’
purchasing power. Prices will be adapted for
each target, depending on whether the period
is peak or off peak, on journey frequency,
and so on… This price optimisation is part
of a well thought out and balanced
business model. We know already that
its socio-economic profi tability is better
than that of a conventional service.
All the major European intercity
(more than 150 km) rail projects currently
in progress will be very high speed.
Morocco is naturally following this trend.
I would add that this project is expected
to have very signifi cant national benefi ts.
Rabat station.