Fastest ~1h by train
| 🚆 Train | ~1h | ONCF, every 30min–1h, Casa Voyageurs–Rabat Ville |
| 🚌 Bus | ~1h+ | CTM/Supratours, little advantage over train |
| 🚗 Car | ~1h | Motorway, tolls plus city parking hassle |
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Casablanca, Morocco's commercial capital, and Rabat, its political one, sit close enough together that many people commute between them — and the train is by far the easiest way to do the trip, whether you have an hour to spare or a whole day.
The easy way: the ONCF train
ONCF trains run frequently between Casablanca and Rabat throughout the day — often every 30 minutes to an hour at peak times — covering the roughly 90 km in about 1 hour. This is one of the busiest and most reliable stretches of the Moroccan rail network, effectively a commuter corridor as much as an intercity route, and it forms part of the same line that continues north towards Kenitra and onto the Al Boraq high-speed section towards Tangier.
Both cities have central stations well placed for their main districts: Casa Voyageurs is the main Casablanca terminus (with Casa Port closer to the old medina and port for some services), and Rabat Ville sits right in the heart of the capital, close to the medina, parliament and embassy district. No reservation is required — buy a ticket at the station or via the ONCF app and take the next convenient departure.
The alternative: bus
CTM and Supratours also run coaches on this corridor, but given how frequent, fast and central the train already is, the bus offers little advantage — journey times are similar or longer, and bus stations are typically further from the centre than the railway stations. The bus is mainly useful if you are already travelling by coach on a longer journey that happens to pass through both cities; see Coaches in Africa for how CTM fits into the wider network.
Driving between the two
The drive takes around an hour on the motorway, similar to the train, but with the added cost of tolls and the hassle of city-centre parking at both ends. Unless you specifically need a car in Rabat or Casablanca, the train is simpler in every respect.
Arriving at Rabat Ville — what to expect
Rabat Ville station is about as central as it gets: step outside and you are within walking distance of the medina, the Hassan Tower and the parliament district, with the Bou Regreg river and the twin city of Salé just across the water. The station itself is modern and easy to navigate, with clear signage in Arabic, French and increasingly English. Taxis (petit taxis, the blue city cabs) wait outside and are inexpensive for short hops if you would rather not walk with luggage.
Casa Voyageurs, the main Casablanca terminus, is a little further from the city's main tourist sights than Rabat Ville is from its own — allow a short taxi ride or a 20–25 minute walk if heading to areas like the Hassan II Mosque or the old medina.
Practical tips for first-time travellers
- Buy your ticket shortly before travel — there is little advantage to booking far ahead on this short, frequent route, and doing so on the day keeps your plans flexible.
- Check whether your train is a TNR (Train Navette Rapide) or a longer-distance service continuing to Tangier — both stop at Rabat Ville, but journey comfort and any onward continuation differ slightly.
- First class is a modest upgrade in price and worth considering at busy commuting times, when second class can be standing-room-only on this heavily used corridor.
- Keep an eye on luggage in busy carriages, as with any well-used commuter-style train — nothing specific to this route, but sensible practice throughout Morocco's rail network.
Rush hour and seasonal notes
As a genuine commuter corridor between Morocco's two biggest administrative and business centres, this line gets busy on weekday mornings and early evenings, when government staff, embassy workers and commuters travel between the capital and the commercial hub. If your schedule allows it, travelling mid-morning or mid-afternoon avoids the most crowded trains and gives a more comfortable ride, particularly if you would rather have a guaranteed seat. Summer months bring more leisure travellers combining both cities with a wider Moroccan itinerary, but the frequent service generally absorbs this extra demand without the kind of disruption seen on longer, less frequent routes.
Air conditioning on ONCF trains is generally reliable and worth appreciating in the summer heat, when temperatures in both cities regularly exceed 30°C.
Making the most of a day trip between the two
Because the journey is so short, many visitors treat Casablanca and Rabat as a single combined day out rather than choosing one as a base. A common pattern is to spend the morning in Rabat's compact old medina and the Kasbah of the Udayas overlooking the river mouth, then take a midday train back to Casablanca for the Hassan II Mosque and the seafront Corniche in the afternoon — comfortably achievable given the roughly one-hour journey each way. Travellers with more time sometimes reverse this, basing themselves in the calmer, greener Rabat and using the train for day trips into busier Casablanca.
Choosing where to base yourself
Rabat is generally quieter, greener and less commercially frenetic than Casablanca, with a smaller and more walkable medina, making it a popular choice for travellers who want a calmer base for exploring the wider region. Casablanca, as Morocco's largest city and economic engine, has a wider choice of flight connections, a livelier nightlife scene and more accommodation options across every budget, but also more traffic and a less immediately charming historic core. Given how easy the train connection is, the choice of base often comes down to accommodation preferences and onward travel plans rather than the transport link itself, since either city is never more than about an hour from the other.
Which should you choose?
Take the train. It is fast, frequent, needs no advance planning, and drops you in the centre of each city. This is one of the simplest journeys anywhere on Viamo's Morocco routes, and there is little reason to consider the alternatives unless your itinerary already has you on a bus or in a car. If you are arriving from abroad, our Casablanca airport to the city guide covers the ONCF link straight from Mohammed V airport, and if you are continuing north, Casablanca to Fes covers the next leg inland.
Frequently asked questions
How often do trains run between Casablanca and Rabat?
Very frequently — often every 30 minutes to an hour throughout the day, making this one of Morocco's busiest rail corridors.
How long does the journey take?
About an hour on the ONCF train, covering roughly 90 km.
Which stations should I use?
Casa Voyageurs is the main Casablanca terminus, and Rabat Ville sits centrally in the capital, close to the medina and government district.
Do I need to book ahead?
No. Reservations are not required for this short, frequent route — buy a ticket at the station or via the ONCF app shortly before travelling.
Sources and further reading:
- Timetables and fares: ONCF (oncf-voyages.ma).
- Rail network overview: our Morocco by train guide.
- See also Casablanca to Fes, Fes to Tangier and Casablanca airport to the city.