Marrakesh - Transport and Communications

Transport and Communications

Marrakesh railway station is well linked by rail transport with several trains running daily to other major cities in Morocco such as Casablanca, Tangiers, Fez, Meknes and Rabat. There is a night train which runs from Marrakesh to Tangier. A modern high speed TGV (French: Train à Grande Vitesse, meaning high-speed train) rail system has been planned. The main road network is well surfaced. The major highway connecting Marrakesh with Casablanca to the south is A7, a toll expressway, 210 km (130 mi) in length. The road from Marrakesh to Settat, a 145 km (90 mi) stretch was inaugurated by King Mohammed VI in April 2007, completing the 558 km (347 mi) highway to Tangiers. Another new road connects Marrakesh to Agadir, 233 km (145 mi) to the west.

Marrakesh-Menara Airport (RAK) is 3 km (1.9 mi) southwest of the city centre. It is an international facility that receives several European flights as well as flights from Casablanca and some of the Arab world nations. The airport is located at an elevation of 471 metres (1,545 ft) at 31°36′25″N 008°02′11″W / 31.60694°N 8.03639°W / 31.60694; -8.03639. It has two formal passenger terminals, but these are more or less combined into one large terminal. A third terminal is being built. The existing T1/T2 terminals offer a space of 42,000 m2 (450,000 sq ft) and has a design capacity of 4.5 million passengers/year. The blacktopped runway is 4.5 km (2.8 mi) long and 45 m (148 ft) wide. The airport has parking space for 14 B737 and 4 B747 aircraft. The separate freight-terminal has 340 m2 (3,700 sq ft) of covered space.