ONCF Morocco Trip Report 16-21st May 2026

DH410 of the ONCF powers Al Atlas train 101 from Casablanca to Beni Nasr along the shores of the Idris I dam as it approaches Matmata. 17/05/2026.

Saturday 16^th May

A fairly early start to get to Stanstead for our Ryanair flight to Fez 09:15. This was non-eventful and landed a little early. Getting through passport control was a breeze, and with hand luggage only we found ourselves stamped into Morocco around 30 minutes before our hire car booking!

DH420 skirts the Idris I reservoir working from
Oijda to Fez. 16/05/2026

Looking at the cloudy weather we quickly realised we would need all the time we had to photograph the diesels here, so diverted the car drop off to Rabat Airport allowing us a later return on Monday. It was quickly realised that in my haste of packing the previous night I had left my driving licence at home- so that was me out as an additional driver and condemned to giving direction from the back seat! Our first destination was straight to the Fez ‘Land Port’ on the west of the city, for there were no diesels to see for a little bit. This diversion was on the off-chance that one of the Alstom DF’s might be in the yard, which I believe they work trip freights to from the main yard at Fez. It wasn’t. And with seemingly no way to get anywhere near the main yard at Fez there was a little time to get supplies and cash before driving east to intercept the afternoon diesel arrivals.

It was unfortunate that being May and in a part of the world which sees a lot of sunshine, the forecast for our thee days in Fez was somewhat varied- and we had arrived to blanket of high cloud. This meant that the first two pictures of the afternoon were unfortunately lost- but thing did pick up for the 16:45 Fez – Oujda which was photographed on the useful ‘horse shoe’ west of Sidi Harazem, (which usefully turns the eastbound departures back into the sun during the afternoon), with DH367, pleasingly one of the older locos.

DH373 is at the head of the 18:20 Fez - Taza under dramatic skies. 16/05/2026

Luck continued as we headed up towards the Idris I dam where DH420 was captured on the 13:30 Oujda – Fez, before finishing the day with DH373, another oldie, on the last train our of Fes, the fairly recently reinstated 18:20 to Taza which was captured in some nice glinty evening light between the clouds.

Or at least we thought that was it, while stopped near the horseshoe to admire the sunset, a freight was spotted beneath us- resulting in a sudden chase back up the line to a suitable position- with some nice light behind it, DH414 was captured on a train of hoppers and steel flats heading east, and delaying our dinner in Fes somewhat!

After the last passenger train has past, DH414 heads east with a freight. 16/05/2026.

The famous tannery in Fez medina.

We drove back and checked into our hotel, the Riad Damia Suite, on the edge of the old city. While parking should have been available we were instantly directed by locals into a garage for 50Dh per night. The Riad was lovely, with a triple room on the ground floor. Now a little late it was time to head straight into the Medina for some dinner- tagine cous cous, very nice. Despite plans for a beer, we were pretty tired so it was straight to bed- especially since there was an early train in the morning!

In the end it had been a pretty decent first afternoon- we had seen two of the older DH350/370’s and a freight hopefully positive for the next few days photography!

Sunday 17^th May-

It was up not long after sunrise to drive 30 minutes out of the city for the first train the 06:20 from Taza since the forecast was much better for the morning. As suspected this was DH373 again, this time long nose leading as there is no run-around facility at Taza.
This shot achieved, despite a very hazy background it was back to Fez for a pleasant and leisurely breakfast at the riad.

In hazy morning conditions, DH373 heads the 06:20 Taza - Fez running long nose first. 17/05/2026

There isn’t a lot of action on the diesel lines in the morning aside from the early commuter turn from Taza, with no daylight departures until 10:30 and the first arrival not until 13:35- so it is nice to have a rare relaxing start. Shortly after 10 however it was time to head out in the car again, back to the reservoir for a shot I was very anxious to achieve on one of the bridges- the view accentuated by a very full lake, contrary to many of the dry pictures I had seen, following a very wet spring season.
DH410 obliged here, and we were all very pleased with the shot on the 10:30 Fez – Beni Nasr.

DH405 powers past Chebabat bound for Oujda 
on train 103. 18/05/2026

There are now a few trains in quick succession, and the following 11:20 Fez – Oujda with DH402 was captured a short distance away over wheat fields again overlooking the lake. We found another spot for the 07:50 Oujda – Fes, after which we adjourned for lunch- the sun was very high now and there weren’t really any locations that worked of for it ‘on the nose’ now heading out of Fez. We had seen a nice looking Meat Grill earlier in the small town of Oulad Ayad, which after a few language barrier differences (apparently the English speak Spanish) proved to be very delicious!

A leisurely lunch over with, it was time to drive back to yesterdays first shot for another go at the 09:25 Beni Nasr – Fes on one of the viaducts near Sidi Harazem. DH427 appeared today, and like yesterday was long nose forwards, and also like yesterday, in poor light.

A wide view captures DH402 powering the 11:20 Fez - Oujda through wheatfields near to the Idris 1 dam. 17/05/2026

Lunch doesn't get much fresher than this lovely
BBQ meat.

Since the afternoon forecast wasn’t conductive to sunny photography, and we do actually quite like a train ride too, the afternoon was spent doing a move from Fes to Matamata and back. The risk of such moves is that with the single line, and not all trains calling at each station, you don’t have much of an option of a ‘safe plus’, not near to Fez in the afternoon anyway.  After much deliberation we decided that the 16:45 Fez – Oujda ought to manage its +3 at Matamata… and if it didn’t we were sure we could find a taxi or something, since there were no more Fez bound trains! Anyway, this was the only move available now if we wanted to go more than the 20 minutes to Sidi Harazem!

DH429 passes Touabaa working the 07:50 Oujda - Fez. 17/05/2026

Tickets were easily purchased from the machines at Fez- and they were happy to reserve us seats both ways on our +3 move. There was even still time for a (rather expensive) ice cream before departure. DH429 got us underway, but by Sidi Harazem we were already a few minutes down after passing a train going the other way. We could have chickened out for a +1h42… but what would be the fun in that!? Instead we used took the sensible option when the guard came through to show our return tickets and try to explain the move… ‘would it make?’ By Matamata it was now about a -3 and DH420 was already waiting in the loop- but true to the guards gesturing, we were sent to the station staff who dispatched out train first, and then made sure that we got onto our return. Phew- job done!

The attractive old city of Fez.

With no sign of a freight ready to head east tonight, it was a more sensible hour to head into Fez for dinner. Though after a diversion to see the tannery, consider buying Fez’ and for me to pick up some slippers, out dinner ended up being some street food near to the restaurants- it was delicious and bought us time to celebrate with a beer. Finding one wasn’t difficult, but getting the local ‘Casablanaca’ was more so. Plenty of establishments claimed to have it, only on further grilling to just have Heinken. Eventually we did track down some genuine ‘Casablanca’ and even treated ourselves to a second bottle- to then be told almost immediately that the bar was closing and we now had to drink up. Ah well…

Monday 18th May-

One of my favourites of the trip- especially with the flowers. DH417 is in charge of the 10:30 Fez - Beni Nasr as it powers over the viaduct at Bouhlou. You wouldn't know that the motorway is just meters away from this idyllic scene behind us! 18/05/2026

Another leisurely start (our last), since nobody fancied getting up for the 06:20 Taza today. We knew the loco was cab leading, but also that there were no other locations and it was cloudy anyway. Not leaving the city until around 10:00, we soon abandoned the nearby shots with the cityscape as the Fez area was clearly still cloudy, and the weather further east showed promise. It was better therefore to chase the weather and make sure we were in position at Bouhlou for the viaduct shot rather than miss mucking it up. This worked a treat, with DH417 at the head of the 10:30 Fez – Beni Nasr and we were all (mostly) very pleased with the picture among the spring flowers.

The next couple of trains were photographed in this area before we again adjourned out of the high midday sun for lunch at our now favourite meat grill- the staff were quite surprised to see the 3 ‘Spanish’ Englishmen again!

DH402 blasts out of the tunnel as it heads uphill towards
Ain Sbit working the 16:45 Fez - Oujda. 18/05/2026

With a bit of a gap now until the afternoon flurry of trains we went to check out some locations for later- in doing so noticing that the ballast hoppers which had been parked up at Sidi Harazem were being loaded from the car park- was there going to be some freight action? We popped into the station to ask, and fortunately the ‘Chief du Gare’ spoke enough English to give us enough of an idea of what was going on- very helpfully letting us know that those wagons weren’t going anywhere, but there should be an eastbound freight that *should* have left Fez about 14:00… but due to a problem hadn’t. It might leave ‘around 18:00’. That sounds very much like the path we had seen the freight in two days ago… by which point really we should be on the road! The chap was very friendly and was pleased to show us some of his other railway photographer friends on Facebook- a few names familiar from the Flickr world!

The 13:30 Oujda - Fez (continuing to Casablanca) is the last inbound train of the evening and is captured near Sidi Harazem with DH429 providing the power. 18/05/2026

Wrapping up the Fez diesels in the best way is DH414
climbing uphill with a freight in the last light between
Sidi Harazem and Ain Sbit. 18/05/2026

While we could have chatted longer, we couldn’t afford to miss our third attempt at the viaduct shot- finally today achieving it in the light we wanted with DH410 on the 09:25 Beni Nasr – Fez. I can only presume there is no run-round at Ben Nasr, hence this train  ending up long nose leading on every occasion we had seen it. Back on the road we wanted to check out the tunnel on the ‘horseshoe’ where the light would be right for the 16:45 Fez – Oujda if there was a shot. Not being put off by small dirt tracks we found our position and caught DH402 for a pleasing shot. A few more shots were taken in the evening light of the last passenger trains, before we adopted our shot for the anticipated freight- of course we would have to stay for it before the long drive to Rabat!

Knowing that the train had come very much in the last light two days ago, our theoretic cut-off was the loss of the light… And really we still had very little idea if the train was going to come now at all- fortunately it did. DH414 closing the chapter on Fez diesels nicely.

Tonight’s dinner was biscuits and crisps on the drive, and by the time we reached the hotel in Rabat any thoughts of seeing the city were long past. We had an early train in the morning!

Tuesday 19^th May-

Alstom Prima II E1477 has deposited us at 
Marrakech after our run from Rabat. 19/05/2026

This morning had arguably become a bit of a pointless transit trip- but it got us all a nice ONCF train ride from Rabat to Marrakech behind E1477. After arrival there was a bit of action to photograph with shunter DI513 before heading straight to the airport in another taxi for our next hire car! Now on the road we would largely trace our steps back to Ben Guerir to get onto the Safi line. Here the targets were the phosphate trains which still run with Hitachi E1100’s several times a day. We didn’t have long to catch one, so it was good news when we pulled into the station at Elaria that the staff were able to tell us that one was coming in the right direction in about 40 minutes. Working out that this would cross the passenger at Youssoufia we could try to find a position to capture both.

E1254 passes the arable fields near Soualem working the 16:05 Safi - Benguerir. 19/05/2026

An 'arty' hire car shot with the phosphate train!

We hoped that heading to the area around Soualem would find us some desert landscapes, but this time of year it was still just dry arable land. E1254 was captured on the 16:05 Safi – Benguerir, confirming these veterans still worked on the line, and shortly afterwards the main event followed with E1117 on its westbound Phosphate train. A chase valiant chase was given, but the lack of roads in the area meant that we only just about caught up with the train again.

E1117 does the business with a westbound phosphate train heading for the port of Safi and pictured in the Soulem area. 19/05/2026

After a wild chase E1117 is caught again at Bidane as it 
accelerates away from the station loop. 19/05/2026

No other activity was observed on this sleepy line until the return passenger, 19:23 Benguerir – Safi which provided disappointment in two ways- the sun almost completely giving way to haze around 5 minutes ahead of the train passing, and also the sight of Prima E1412 on the train. Clearly the Hitachi had been swapped, and that would scupper our morning shot too. Tonight we stayed at the Valley Boutique Hotel in Safi- which was lovely, except for the room not having enough beds! Dinner was in town, where every restaurant had the football on, and our chosen one couldn’t provide their ‘Moroccan’ dishes. 

Wednesday 20^th May-

DH357 is caught alongside the Atlantic ocean as it works a long train from the port of Safi to the industrial works to the south of the town. 20/05/2026

DH357 crawls through the docks at Safi- a fortuitous and quick
picture on my phone before we were stopped! 20/05/2026

In the original plan, today should have been a nice easy day on the Safi line before ending in Marrakech- but in the later stages of planning we picked up that Phosphate trains also run on the line to Khourigba, and can produce E1300’s… so this obviously also now had to be covered. The hotel in Marrakech cancelled and an apartment in Settat booked instead.

It was also now getting rather warm… midday temperatures peaking in the low 40’s, so the sensible plan was to spend the morning around Safi, drive during the middle of the day for an afternoon arrival in Settat, catching the best of the light.
We only knew 99% that the morning train out of Safi would be Prima E1412 again, so it was worth a punt. Or was it- the sun hadn’t cleared the haze when the train passed the outskirts of Safi, and was indeed E1412 again.

Another look at E1117 at Bidane on its westbound phosphate train. 19/05/2026

Our other target in this area was the green DK diesels which can work trains between the docks and the works in the city. A look in at the station revealed not a DK, but DH357 set up on a train looking ready to go ‘soon’. We sneaked a quick picture before we could be chucked out of the area, an action which was clearly in progress!
Setting up outside the factory area, we now just had to wait and hope that the DH would indeed delivery it’s train, and ideally before 09:20 so we could still make it back to the hotel for breakfast!

DK556 shunts within the phosphate terminal at Safi. This nice 
clear view is the result of considerable work to remove overhead
wires from the front of the picture in Photoshop! 20/05/2026

Just before 09:15 a horn was heard, and we were somewhat surprised to see the train moving much more quickly than anticipated- perhaps not resulting in all of the party quite getting the shots we had in mind! Anyway- it was a diesel shot and we could get back to the hotel for what turned out to be a very nice breakfast.

We had spotted a DK shunting next to the ‘No Photography’ sign at the Phosphate terminal earlier, so this became a target for after breakfast. First though, we just happened to spot a freight train slowly ambling along the line to the docks- it was DH357 again, now heading north. Bundling the car into a parking space and rushing through the security check at the port entrance, we just about managed to find a position to capture the train entering the port complex. The timing probably couldn’t have been better as the authorities didn’t have time to tell us not to take pictures until the train had passed! Back now to our other ‘No Photos’ spot, where the DK kept us waiting, seemingly for ages while we kept a low profile waiting for it to get into a position where we could nab it from the bridge. It isn’t the greatest photo (but a lot better with a it of photoshopping of the overheads!), but DK556 is in the sightings book and they are rare beasts these days (plus they sound good)!

Now it was time for the drive, but opting to keep near to the railway just in case we happened to stumble across a sulphate train, having only so far seen one. This we did, and on the section of the road which actually follows the railway, allowing us to get into a decent position for the passing of E1111 with a westbound train- the sun was a little high, but you have to take what you are given!

Our drive north was punctuated by a stop at the motorway services for lunch. This is probably the best service station lunch any of us had had! A whole chicken cooked in a tagine- I won’t be expecting that at Clacket Lane any time soon!

Heading back towards Benguerir E1111 is intercepted on only our second Phosphate train- fortunately also heading in the right direction for the light towards Safi. 20/05/2026

Unfortunately our afternoon on the Khourigba line was less successful.
Pulling in to the station at Tamdrost where an E1300 was stabled, we were quickly ushered away unable to access the loco. In the escape we ended up stuck the wrong side of the barriers when a loaded Phosphate train then passed heading south with E1352- the chase was fairly futile as it was going at a good pace, and the light was all wrong for this direction anyway. We stumbled upon a level crossing with the warning lights on, which must have now meant a northbound train was due. The crossing keeper confirmed this, so we scrambled to a very average location for it… After about 20 minutes and several reassurances from the crossing keeper that the train was coming, it was concluded by all involved, that it was not, and the crossing was faulty. Panic over, we had time to find a proper location, and thoroughly ‘garden’ the view. Now all we needed was a train… and sadly all we got was E1318 going in the wrong direction. In 4 hours there had been no sign of a northbound train at all, but at least both trains we had seen were in the hands of the E1300’s, and we were able to confirm that the evening train to Oued Zem was an E1200- so we knew we at least had one of them to photograph in the morning!

Prima II E1412 is in charge of the 19:23 Benguerir - Safi in place of the hoped for Hitachi. 19/05/2026

Getting into our apartment in Settat wasn’t the simplest- but despite no common language with the host, we managed to locate the place, and be shown inside. A decent flat with enough beds, but this time not enough towels!

It was a drive back into bustling Settat for dinner- another meat grill for our final evening meal. All of us were relieved to get back into the apartment, since we had no idea what we were going to do if somebody had locked the secondary dead-bolt on the door that none of our keys would open! 

Thursday 21^st May-

E1419 provides our first freight on the Khourigba line, heading east with box wagons bound for the factory at Loulad. 21/05/2026

Since we had a flight home tonight, there was a realistic cut-off around midday to head back to Marrakech from the Khourigba line. Given the observed lack of trains yesterday, we had to be out at first light and hope for the best.

It was a good hour until our first train, predictably the passenger with E1258. It made a decent side shot, but as with the Safi line, the light was well off the front- we would have to hope the first southbound produced for the shot we really wanted.

Another Prima when we hoped for a Hitachi- E1376 never the
less makes a nice picture with the 08:14 train from Cassablanca
to Khourigba. 21/05/2026

I always feel a bit nervous moving from ‘the spot’ to take an average picture of a train heading the ‘wrong’ way on double track when you have no real idea of when you might see what you are actually waiting for. Fortunately fate didn’t send the only freight past us while we were out of position, but less than 10 minutes later, one did indeed round the corner. Not a sulphate train, but vans behind E1419- not quite what we wanted, but it was something. I believe these vans head up the diesel line to Loulad- perhaps something to chase later?

Since this train wasn’t part of the Phosphate circuit, I still had some hope that we might get our prize. E1313 headed north, and of course, the 08:14 Casablanca – Khourigba passenger turned up Prima hauled with E1376- our last chance at a passenger Hitachi.

E1258 works the first Khourigba train of the day, bound for Casablanca. 21/05/2026

Finally, at 10:00, after only just over 2 hours of waiting, the broken nose of E1318 crawled into view- We had our shot! And with the train going so slowly an enjoyable chase would follow. By now the established format of me quickly scouting locations down the line and directing while Rob drove quick enough to get the shots without us getting killed… that’s teamwork- and thanks to the absolute pedestrian pace of the train, we managed to get ahead of it for 4 more shots before it arrived at the Phosphate terminal at Sidi Hajjaj! The terminal here is all fenced off, but that didn’t stop us sneaking in for a final picture- the ground staff clearly not in the least bit bothered.

Finally a nez-casse phosphate train! Alstom E1318 powers its load towards the phosphate loading terminal at Sidi Hajjaj. 21/05/2026

There was no point sticking around the line any longer so we had a quick reccie of the line to Loulad- which yielded absolutely nothing except some gen from the station master at Mrizig that the freight was down the branch, and would leave around 18:00- no good for us.

I had a final shot planned on the electric line close to Marrakech, but the area was dodged by clouds, and the train never showed up anyway- maybe we missed it, maybe it was late- we will never know! All that was left now was to return the hire car to and head home on our flight from Marrakech after a successful trip.

 

Conclusions-

The final shot of the trip with E1318 now within the loading termina at Sidi Hajjaj. 21/05/2026

This trip was very different to my first visit, solo, to Morocco 9 years ago. Much more photography based, and very successful in that respect. The trip had initially been planned for later in the year when the days would be cooler, and hopefully the light more pleasant, but the potential imminent arrival of ‘DO’ class diesels from China, of which very little seems to be known, pushed this trip forward. It is expected that the new diesels will take over the passenger work east of Fez, replacing the DH400’s which themselves only date from 2013, with the displaced diesels then displacing older classes which are used on freight. Also looming is a large order for new EMU’s which will replace at least the majority of the loco-hauled passenger trains and their now ageing Corail coaches.

As is so often the case, this trip aimed to cover a little bit of everything in the minimum time- and really could have done with another day or two. That said, all the objectives were achieved, though a better picture of a ‘DK’ would have been preferable.

Getting one of the older diesels is always pleasing- DH367 is seen in charge of the 16:45 Fez - Oujda between Sidi Harazem and Ain Sbit on the 'horseshoe' curve which is so useful for photography. 16/05/2026

Chasing the diesels east of Fez is a pleasure- I’m sure there are more trains than when I first visited, but other than a few gaps, there is plenty of activity at some point throughout the day to maintain interest. Scenery is abundant also, and even sticking to not much more of an hours drive from Fez plenty of different shots can be achieved. There are a few of the older liveried DH300/350’s still active on passenger which add a nice bit of variety.

On the electric lines, it is good to see the older classes still just about hanging on. A big change from 2017 is that virtually all services are now in the hands of the E1400 Prima’s since delivery of the second batch. Only a handful of E1250’s still work on the Safi and Khourigba lines, and even here E1400’s can also appear.

It was good to capture both the old E1100 Hitachi’s and the Alstom E1300’s on freight, and having seen recent reports it was pleasing that, while I suspect we didn’t see every circuit, all of the Phosphate trains we did see on the Khourigba lines were in the hands of the older traction. The big risk to the remaining old locos surely comes from displacement of the E1400’s on passenger trains by EMU’s, likely in the next couple of years.

Having waited several hours, it was pleasing to catch one of the 'broken nose' Alstom electrics on the Khourigba line, which appears to be their last stronghold. 21/05/2026

I have always enjoyed travelling in Morocco, there are good people and the food is good. Generally we had no issues with photography and nobody caused us any bother. Aside from one near-death experience and a couple of road fines (and we were being careful!), the roads were not too tricky, and driving seemed much more regulated than other north African countries we had visited- though this didn’t necessarily translate to less accidents or an understanding of roundabouts!

I’d happily return to Morocco, but with changes on the horizon and other priorities, this might just be one of those countries that can now be put on the ‘done’ list!