Rabat – Train services were disrupted late Friday night in Sidi Kacem due to heavy rainfall, leaving passengers stranded for several hours. After trains came to a halt, travelers were asked to disembark and were informed that buses would be provided as an alternative means of transport.
However, only around three buses reportedly arrived despite the large number of passengers affected, resulting in overcrowding and extended delays. Passengers said they had been stranded at Sidi Kacem station since approximately 11:30 p.m., as additional trains continued to arrive at the station, worsening congestion.
“All trains are stuck in Sidi Kacem due to heavy rain. We were told to get off the train and that buses would be provided, but only about three buses arrived despite the large number of passengers. We have been stranded here since 11:30 p.m., and trains keep arriving one after another,” one passenger told Morocco World News (MWN).
“There are no officials on site and no one to speak to. No assistance or financial support has been provided, and we have been left without any answers for hours. We have been waiting for eight hours,” the passenger added.
Another traveler described what he called a lack of organization at the station. “There is a major issue with ONCF. Around midnight, two trains got stuck at Sidi Kacem train station. We were promised buses, but only two arrived despite the huge number of passengers. There was no organization at all. It’s unbelievable. As of 4:16 a.m., thousands of people are still stuck at the station,” he said.
In response, Morocco’s National Railways Office (ONCF) said it immediately mobilized its human and technical resources to manage the situation and restore train services.
In a statement, the office explained that heavy rainfall recorded on Friday caused flooding along the Fez–Sidi Kacem rail line, leading to a precautionary suspension of train traffic starting at 12:40 p.m. between Sidi M’barek Rdoum and Ain Karma.
ONCF noted that the suspension caused disruptions along the route, but said train services began to resume from 5:20 p.m. after emergency measures were put in place. The office added that it continues to work intensively to fully restore normal train operations as soon as possible.