Resumption of Morocco Train traffic:
ONCF has resumed rail traffic and has taken several measures to counter the spread of Covid19. At the station level, passengers are sorted according to their destinations and the compulsory wearing of masks will be checked. The Office also launches continuous cleaning, disinfection and sterilization operations for all station facilities and equipment. In addition to these measures, there are other arrangements made in the ticket acquisition area and in the platform areas and their access. These include, among other things, the supply of sterilization and disinfection equipment to make them available to travelers, the disinfection and sterilization of vending machines and seats, as well as the installation of floor marks and audio announcements, in order to respect the spacing between passengers.
After passenger access to the platforms, they will be guided through posters, audio announcements and instructions from ONCF staff to ensure compliance with the train and car number indicated on the ticket, while regulating the movement of disembarkation and embarkation of passengers and the safety distance.
The National Office of Railways (ONCF) strengthens, from Monday 1 June 2020, the offer of fast shuttle trains (TNR), maintained at reduced speed during confinement on the proximity axes Casa Port-Settat , Casa Port-El Jadida and Casa Port-Rabat-Kanitra.
The ONCF announced Thursday in a press release that the number of services will increase from 20 to 40 trains per day, combined with the reopening of the stations of Rabat Agdal and Salé Tabriquet, and this “in full compliance with the measures decreed by the competent authorities and following the progressive evolution of demand “.
To this end, the Office is putting in place an appropriate system of protection and health security measures while introducing new travel rules to “support the gradual resumption of traffic and guarantee the optimal conditions for protected travel”, indicates the communicated.
This system also provides for a battery of preventive and proactive security measures in order to contribute to protection against the Covid-19 and ensure strict compliance with health measures, including the screening of passengers at the entrance to stations to separate flows, the control of the wearing of masks in stations and on trains, the provision of hydro-alcoholic gels in stations and on trains, as well as the reinforced and continuous cleaning and disinfection of trains and shared spaces in stations. The ONCF will also ensure respect for social distancing in waiting areas in stations, on platforms and in travel areas on board trains, by limiting sales capacity, neutralizing seats and the marking on the ground of the safety distance to be respected, as well as the wearing of a mask and visors by “Front Office” staff in contact with customers in stations and on trains.
In addition, and in order to regulate the use of TNRs and allow compliance with the rules of physical distance on board, the Office applies the exceptional measure to reduce their sales and occupancy capacity to 50% during this first phase , said the same source.
In addition, reservations will now be compulsory on board TNRs, as is the case for ALBORAQ and ALATLAS trains. Thus, all TNR passengers (full fare ticket, subscription, reduction, railway workers, members) will have to respect the use of the train and the car, the numbers of which will be indicated on the ticket, ONCF said. “Shuttle and Dima” subscribers must then make a reservation for the requested TNR with their subscription card, before boarding, the statement added.
To support the implementation of all these protection and prevention measures, the ONCF is rolling out a targeted communication plan. It aims to reassure citizens about the use of trains and make them aware of compliance with safety instructions, under the sign “Act together to protect ourselves”.
This multi-channel plan will be implemented through in-situ communication in stations and on trains (display, sound announcements, assistance, etc.), a “radio” campaign on different stations, a digital deployment (social networks, ONCF websites and application ONCF TRAFIC with adapted web content and educational videos), in addition to a direct contact plan with subscribed customers by sending sms and telephone calls. The objective is to inform customers about the new measures taken by the ONCF, to make them aware of compliance with barrier gestures and social distancing rules, while guiding passenger flows and guaranteeing better fluidity in stations and at board trains.
With a view to continuously informing its customers about train timetables and frequencies and enabling them to anticipate and plan their journey, the Office provides them with all the necessary information remotely via its websites, its Customer Relations center 2255, the ONCF TRAFIC application as well as through its social media pages. He also invites them to buy their ticket remotely on his commercial site to avoid their trip to stations and guarantee them a smooth journey on the day of the trip and a place in the requested train (TNR, AL ATLAS, AL BORAQ), before exhaustion of authorized capacity.
As part of the national deconfinement plan and while complying with strict compliance with the protection and health security measures adopted, the ONCF is preparing the gradual resumption of AL BORAQ and AL ATLAS services and will soon announce their date of circulation, concludes the press release.