The ONCF trains announced this Thursday, May 28, the gradual resumption of rail traffic from June 1. Knowing that the company only mentions fast shuttle trains, an authorized source to learn more about the agenda to return to a level of activity similar to that before the crisis.
Approaching the official end of the quarantine , on June 10, a press release from the agency announced that it will increase, from June 1, the number of fast shuttle trains from 20 to 40 and that it will reopen the stations of Rabat-Agdal and Salé-Tabriquet.
The current priority of the ONCF, according to an authorized source, “is to strengthen the program of the Kenitra Casablanca El Jadida Settat rail axis dedicated to commuting.”
The recovery will begin with the strengthening of the fast train offer
“Knowing that we have felt an increase in demand, we have doubled the number of trains while respecting the rules of distance and the occupancy rate which must not exceed 50%.
“Thus, on the Casablanca-Rabat axis, we had 12 trains which went to 24 and for El Jadida-Settat, we went from 8 to 16 trains which means that in total, the offer went from 20 to 40 trains.
“In addition, all the Moroccan stations have been redeveloped with the implementation of social distancing measures via markings inside the stations or on the platforms, not to mention the availability of hydroalcoholic gel everywhere, including included in the trains, “recalled our interlocutor.
Asked about the date of resumption of the traffic of the line trains (Al Boraq and Atlas) which are at a complete stop, our source affirms that all is ready but that the ONCF is suspended with the decision of the public authorities.
ONCF Trains is ready to resume line train traffic
“We still do not know if June 10 will correspond to the resumption of intercity connections but if this is the case, we are ready to meet the demand while respecting health rules.
“While it is difficult to decide on what will happen next, the ONCF has several scenarios, the application of which will depend on the agenda and the recovery process decided by the public authorities,
“In fact, if the government gives the green light for a total resumption of activity on June 10, we are able to carry out a 100% restart”, reveals our interlocutor who adds that the ONCF will be able to adapt to all levels of demand, including very large crowds.
A rush of travelers on June 11 is excluded
“Even if no eventuality is ruled out there, we believe that the recovery will take place gradually.
“Indeed, after 2 and a half months of confinement, it is unlikely that people will go overnight, rushing en masse to our counters and then on the trains.
“If many will want to travel after a long period of confinement, there is little chance of returning to the same level of activity as at the beginning of last March because it will take a little time to get there.
“Indeed, knowing that the resumption of ONCF activity is linked to that of a certain number of economic sectors such as tourism which will take time to recover, we should not therefore expect that the June 11, there is a rush of passengers.
The only priority is to regain the confidence of the passengers
“The real challenge will be to regain the trust of a good number of our customers by guaranteeing them total health safety in the wagons which will be disinfected very regularly.
“This is a prerequisite for people to come back because some anxious people will prefer to be confined in their cars rather than sharing a wagon with other unknown people.
“From there, our only concern is to be able to convince our traditional customers that the ONCF has eliminated all health risks,” hoped our interlocutor. ”
The return to previous activity will not take place before the end of 2020
Knowing that the RAM expects a return to normal activity not before the horizon 2023, another question therefore focused on the time it will take the ONCF Trains to return to the level of activity before the crisis.
“The railway activity is different from the aviation activity. Indeed, the resumption of its activity is subject to more constraints like the date of reopening of the aerial skies and international borders which will be conditioned by the evolution of the pandemic in the world.
“If a small part of our activity is linked to tourism, the company depends above all on internal activities, namely the economic mobility of people and also goods through freight.
“It is therefore according to the gradual recovery of a certain number of economic sectors that our activity will reach its full speed. It will take a little time but not more than a few months”.
ONCF trains :No increase in pricing is planned
To the last question devoted to a possible increase in the prices of train tickets linked to investments in protective measures, our interlocutor completely excluded this possibility.