Is the train safe in Morocco?

Trains are something I recommend enthusiastically, because they are both safe and genuinely pleasant. Morocco's national rail operator, ONCF, runs a clean, modern network linking the major cities of the north and centre — Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Fes, Marrakech — and the Al Boraq high-speed line between Tangier and Casablanca is a gleaming piece of kit that hits 320 km/h and would not look out of place in France. Personal safety on board is excellent; families, students and solo women travel by train constantly without a second thought.

The carriages come in first and second class, both perfectly comfortable. I usually nudge guests toward first class on longer runs — it is only modestly more expensive, guarantees a reserved seat in an air-conditioned compartment, and is less crowded, which is as much about comfort and luggage space as anything. Second class is fine and cheaper but can be packed at peak times, and a crowded carriage is simply where you pay a little more attention to your bag.

That is the only real precaution, and it is the same one you would take on any train anywhere: petty theft of unattended luggage or a phone left on a seat is the realistic risk, not anything more serious. Keep your bag where you can see it or use the overhead rack above your own seat rather than at the far end of the carriage, keep your phone and wallet on you, and stay aware when dozing on a long journey. Pickpocketing happens far more on crowded city streets than on trains, but the principle carries over.

Practically, buy tickets at the station counter, from machines, or via the ONCF app, and consider reserving a seat in advance on busy routes and holidays. Trains run to a reasonable schedule though occasional delays happen, so build a little buffer if you have a connection. Honestly, the train is one of my favourite ways to show guests the country — watching the landscape shift from coast to plain to red city, safely and in comfort. It is a highlight, not a hazard.