The World Bank has approved a $350 million financing package to support Morocco's Service Intra-métropolitain Rapproché (SIR) program, a major urban rail initiative in Greater Casablanca. The project aims to expand electrified passenger rail services, improve access to jobs and essential services, and promote sustainable urban mobility, the World Bank said in a press release dated Monday, June 9. Centered in Morocco's railway hub, the SIR program will upgrade 73 km of existing track and develop 15 multimodal stations, connecting Casablanca to suburban areas such as Zenata, Mohammedia, Nouaceur, and Bouskoura. The initiative also seeks to strengthen the capacity and governance of ONCF, Morocco's national railway operator. «The World Bank's support will strengthen the governance and operational capacity of ONCF, supporting its long-term vision of transformation into a public limited company with a world-leading role in service delivery to customers», said Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye, Division Director for the Maghreb and Malta at the World Bank. «This strategic investment underscores a commitment to sustainable development and improved quality of life for all residents of Greater Casablanca». By June 2031, the SIR program is expected to benefit over 560,000 people by improving access to sustainable transport infrastructure. According to the World Bank, the project will result in a 7% increase in the number of workplaces reachable by train within 45 minutes, and a 7.3% increase in access to essential services within the same travel time.
