The opening session of the 20th World Conference on Railway Security, organized by the International Union of Railways (UIC), was not without clear praise for the Moroccan model in securing facilities and infrastructure, as well as integrating the security of the movement of people and goods within an integrated Moroccan strategy coordinated by the National Railway Office.

In front of a significant foreign audience and Moroccan officials, led by the Governor of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region, Mohamed Rabie Khlie, Director General of the National Railways Office (ONCF), Vice President of the International Union of Railways (UIC), and President of the UIC for Africa, presented, during the conference held under the theme “Aligning Human Resources and Technology,” the “pioneering Moroccan experience in securing facilities through a national security center that integrates more than 2,000 smart surveillance cameras and tight field coordination between various security agencies and stakeholders,” while calling at the same time for “urgent continental mobilization to address the security deficit in African networks, 80% of which still lack structured protection and security infrastructure.”

During the event, held for the first time in Africa in the capital Rabat under royal patronage, Al-Khali’i affirmed that “the Kingdom of Morocco has launched a new era in the railway transport sector through a huge investment program worth 96 billion dirhams.”

He explained that “this ambitious plan includes extending the high-speed line between Kenitra and Marrakech over a distance of 430 km, developing regional rapid transit (RER) networks in Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech, as well as acquiring 168 new trains.”

A coordinated Moroccan model

The Director General of ONCF, in his speech, recalled the “pivotness of this important international meeting,” and said: “We are meeting here, in the heart of the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco, to highlight the development of practices, technologies and governance models in the field of railway security, and to think together about the most effective ways to ensure safer, more flexible and sustainable mobility, in service of citizens and the development of our countries.”

He considered that “the choice expressed by the international railway family to host the conference and its discussions in Morocco carries high symbolic significance for us; it embodies the confidence that the Moroccan model enjoys in the field of transport infrastructure security, and reflects the growing interest in the strategic role of Africa and its commitment to keeping pace with the profound transformations taking place in the mobility and transport sector globally.”

He went on to say that “the contemporary history of the railway system in Morocco has been characterized by a profound and continuous transformation. The last two decades have witnessed the emergence of a modern, strengthened, and safe network, organized according to a future-oriented vision guided by King Mohammed VI.”

From this standpoint, Al-Khali’i adds, “Our office has initiated a series of major measures aimed at raising the levels of field (operational) security, modernizing prevention and monitoring tools, and establishing a culture of shared vigilance at all levels of the institution.”

This dynamic has been translated, in particular, into “the development of a structured and effective security system, based on a robust railway police force comprising approximately 190 sworn officers and 50 supervisors deployed daily at stations, on trains, and within strategic facilities.” This system is further strengthened by “a network of approximately 1,400 surveillance agents spread across the entire national territory, as well as a regional coverage centered around ten major security sites, ensuring a continuous and coordinated presence.”

Lakhli’ also cited as evidence of the effectiveness of the Moroccan approach in securing facilities and individuals the “generalization of access control and intrusion detection systems in hundreds of technical headquarters, as well as the deployment of a national video surveillance system that operates continuously and covers all stations with medium and high activity, as well as the length of the Tangier-Casablanca passenger TGV line.”

The Vice-President of the International Union of Railways and President of the World Railway Organization for Africa summarized that “this national dynamic, marked by increasing proactivity and continuous modernization of mechanisms, intersects with a broader reality at the level of the African continent; which calls for collective mobilization: building a safe and sustainable railway network in Africa involves boosting investments, continuously raising competencies, strengthening the regulatory framework, and above all, establishing a genuine culture of security.”

International Cooperation

For his part, Francois Davin, Director General of the International Union of Railways, stressed that “the issue of security on international railways is certainly an issue of increasing importance day by day,” and said: “In fact, we are facing growing threats, whether those mainly related to the risks of terrorism, or those related to the world of crime.”

In a statement to Hespress newspaper on the sidelines of the event, Davin said: “Since public transport, specifically rail transport, is characterized by its open nature and ease of access – a key advantage of this sector – we must maintain this sense of security and safety among users,” adding that this “can only be achieved through international cooperation; the fundamental difference between security and safety lies in the fact that in the security aspect we deal with events characterized by a kind of unpredictability.”

He continued: “Therefore, there must be an international cooperation network for railway security – a role played by the International Union of Railways – in order to find precise solutions to each emerging threat, especially since threats are constantly evolving. Accordingly, this international cooperation is essential and crucial.”

Praise for Morocco

Regarding his vision and assessment of the development of the railway sector in Morocco, the head of the international organization commented: “For us, Morocco is a model and an example to be followed, not only at the level of the African continent, but beyond that (...) What particularly impresses us, from the perspective of international railways, is that Morocco has witnessed the implementation of a very carefully considered development plan that has been steadily being implemented for 20 years.”

He noted positively that “every time we return to Morocco, we notice the development of new projects. The high-speed train (TGV) project was the first of its kind in Africa, and despite the criticism it faced at the beginning, it ultimately achieved great success. We are currently witnessing the expansion of this route: from the Rabat-Tangier line, and soon Rabat-Marrakech, in addition to projects linking Marrakech to Agadir,” considering that “the railway network has begun to transform into the backbone of the Kingdom.”

At the same time, as expected, Davin continues, “the development of the high-speed train is accompanied by the continuous development of the Regional Rapid Network (RER) system,” describing this as “an obvious development to intensify and centralize resources.”

He concluded by expressing his opinion that “this trend is extremely important. Our message at the International Union of Railways is the necessity of change, and changing the center of gravity in the transport system, or what we call changing the transport paradigm; that is, we must move more towards mass transit, because it is in the interest of the environment and the people, as all surveys confirm that citizens want more rail services. And Morocco is a confirmed model in this field.”