Public Transport And Driving In Morocco
Trains
The new railway station in Tangier was built by the French and, in fact French, works surprisingly well, probably even better than at home!
Trains in Morocco are free and not too expensive. The state-owned network, the ONCF, connects a limited network of routes, but traveling between major cities is a much better option. Trains are reliable, comfortable, fast and efficient.
Ticket reservations can only be made on the first trip.
Supratours: is a bus company owned by the railway network, covering areas east of the Atlas Mountains and south of Marrakech, which have not yet been served by the railway network. Buses connect smoothly to city trains. Tickets for integrated trains and buses are sold in one package, known as “Rail & Route”.
All train stations have clear signs and displays in Arabic and French to help you find your way. The display of the platform also shows the expected delays.
Larger stations are better served by other forms of public transportation, such as local buses and city cabinets.
Train code of conduct: Moroccans are friendly and respectful when traveling and it is easy to start a conversation. You will find some of your train passengers happy to share food and sweets.
Smoking is not allowed on Moroccan trains, although many people smoke in the railway line. In cars without a corridor, smoking is considered an insult.
Security: Moroccan trains and trains are reasonably safe. However, as with the rest of the world, they are the magnetic field of small crime. So be careful, use your common sense remember:
- Do not leave your luggage unattended at stations or trains
- Keep your tickets, passport, money and credit cards in a safe place away from all your luggage
- Be very careful with your bags when boarding and leaving the train in the middle of a crowd
- Do not sit or sleep alone in the room,
Some travelers have reported problems with touts, especially on trains leading to Fez. If you have a problem, train staff will help you. The police are very helpful and are present at many train stations.
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The wind
Air connections with Morocco are excellent and transfers across the country work the same way.
Airports are being upgraded and new ones are being built, e.g. eTangier. The 'Over skies agreement' was recently signed ahead of 2007 and Monarch, Ryan Air and Easy Jet have all been rumored to be registering for Tangier and Tetouan airports.
Deals available:
GB Airways, which is part of BA, recently announced that it will fly to Tangier soon to recover 169 pounds. Thompson also announced that they will be flying to Agadir for only 29 pounds each and Atlas Blue is flying to Morocco for 60 pounds.
The agreements will begin to accelerate in 2006, as Morocco remains an unplanned aviation market, yet less than three hours from the UK. It will also pressure the flag bearer, Royal Air Maroc, to follow suit and has recently pledged to increase its fleet by 50 percent by 2007.
Tetouan, about an hour's drive west of Tangiers, has an understated international airport, but major hotel groups, Club Med, Sofitel, Accor in the area have been demanding that the governor reopen it as it is currently used only for domestic flights.
Casablanca Airport serves as a nerve knot for domestic flights, with Royal Air Maroc (RAM) as its carrier. Local flights are expensive, but save a lot of time.
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The bus
Buses are usually the cheapest mode of travel and make regular routes almost anywhere in Morocco. And it's a safer and more comfortable way, than taxis.
Bus services in Moroccan cities are conducted privately. There are many companies with very different levels of size, comfort, time management, safety and performance. Many companies operate only on routes in a particular region.
The three largest bus companies in Morocco are:
CTM - Previously owned by the government, but now a private company listed on Casablanca shares. It is the only bus driver that covers the whole country.
SATAS - A company based in Agadir. It is most active south of his hometown, but also between Casablanca, Marrakech and Agadir.
Supratours - Owned by the ONCF railway company. The routes add a railway network to areas south of Marrakech and to the northern cities of Tetouan and Nador. Tickets must be purchased at the train station.
Whenever you have a choice, you will be notified of one of these three companies. Some operators may cost less, but they can't beat the big three with the comfort and maintenance of their vessels.
Tickets are sold at bus stops and you can get them until the times before the bus leaves. It is recommended that you get your tickets a few hours in advance to ensure that the bus is not fully booked.
If you are taking a bus somewhere along its route, get your tickets at least a day in advance.
As soon as you step into the bus terminal, you will be surrounded by “courts” (French “merchants”). These men know the bus routes and timetables by heart and can be very helpful. With a small tip, you can say where you are going and they will take you to the ticket window of the company that runs the next bus there.
Shared Taxis
Taxis are one of Morocco's leading transportation hubs. Large Mercedes Benz cars usually carry 6 passengers.
Shared taxis operate on various routes and are much faster than public buses. Money is very expensive. You can also tag a taxi anywhere on the road. If there is a gap, the driver stops and picks you up but when it is full, the driver will wave and apologize.
Note: Taxis only work between cities in the same region, e.g. you cannot get a shared taxi from Tangier to Casablanca.
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