An impromptu decision to visit Asilah for a weekend led to my looking up ONCF timetables to make the Rabat-Asilah trip work. The objective to avoid a car trip as much as possible and to instead have the opportunity to catch up on some much needed reading. In all honesty, the train ride to Asilah had long been on my radar. I knew that because of the recently built TGV from Kenitra-Tanger, that the classic line had been freed up for local trips.

After selecting a trip that fit, an 11:35-14:09 train departing from Kenitra, I was off. Catching the train from Kenitra was less of a challenge, as the frequency reaches around 2-3 times per hour from Rabat. I was especially happy about the cross-platform transfer to continue northward that awaited me in Kenitra.

The usual Atlas trains which are overcrowded on the Fes-Marrakech corridor, were suddenly a joy. AC, spacious cabins when not full (2-4 people in a 6-8 person cabin), large airy windows that open allowing one to take in the scenery of the Gharb as it transitions into the foothills of the Jbela region with delight.

To my pleasant surprise, every stop was well frequented by local travelers. Suggesting its utility to each of the small towns along the route. Making good usage of its (mostly) single-tracked, but electrified, rail line. The entire Kenitra-Asilah trip is 2h34m, with only another 34m to Tanger. Resulting in each of these towns being relatively accessible to one another and well connected to 3 urban clusters, as the line forms a wye between Tanger, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra and Meknes-Fes.

More could be done about the frequency of trains, the scheduled spacing and the connections at the larger stations (takt!). But, overall, relatively better served when comparing to the other less used classic lines in Morocco (for example Benguerir-Safi is once-twice per day).

The vitalness of such regional connectivity cannot be overstated. I would not have considered a journey to Asilah had the train connection not existed. As was seemingly the case for the groups of tourists making the trip down from Tanger and back.

On my way back, I was able to travel the remaining 34m to Tanger and connect with the hourly TGV to Rabat. Enabling the transfer to the higher speed long distance line. Building out the rest of the spine of the TGV to Marrakech and beyond will free much of the classic rail lines to enable the same local inter-city connectivity (and RER urban networks as well).