After one year of operation, the Rabat tramway has demonstrated its effectiveness. In one year, the number of passengers has doubled to reach 80,000 per day with 10,000 subscribers, 50% of whom are students. A satisfactory balance sheet that testifies to the usefulness of this mode of transport, notably its impact on the chronic congestion of certain strategic arteries of the capital. Today, this means of transport has become the new daily partner of the R'batis. A success that has pushed the management of the Rabat-Salé Tramway Company (STRS) to look into the study of opportunities to serve other neighbourhoods. And this, via the extension of new Tram lines, as affirmed by Loubna Boutaleb, director of the STRS, in a statement to the press: "studies for the extension of the Rabat-Salé tramway network to other neighbourhoods will be launched shortly to serve more populated areas". Technically, on the Rabat side, the extension of the lines is envisaged towards the neighbourhoods of Yakoub Al Mansour, Hay Al Fath and Hay Riad. On the Salé side, the extension could concern Hay Salam, Al Qarya and Salé Al Jadida. Témara will not be left out. It will also be served by this mode of transport. The extension of the tramway network would thus be timely to accompany the dynamic that the entire conurbation is experiencing, especially with the growing number of social housing units in the peripheral areas. Added to this is the establishment of new residential, administrative and activity neighbourhoods such as Hay Riad. The repercussions of the tramway extension will be advantageous both for the upgrading of urban mobility in the region and for the local economic development of the areas served. For the lot, the extension of the Tram lines will be a real asset. Especially since at the level of these areas, studies on origin/destination flows have shown that the majority of trips are made within each of the conurbations, and that the main destination is the centre of Rabat. Thus in Témara, 58% of the population's trips are made within Témara and 30% are made essentially towards Agdal, Hay Riad and Hassan. Similarly in Salé, 60% of the population's trips are made within the city, 35% are made towards Agdal, Hay Riad and Hassan and 74% of trips have a home-work motive. On this register, Tram lines connecting these neighbourhoods to the city centre are of considerable importance, notably with the insufficiency of other means of transport and the proliferation of clandestine transport, which has become the only way out for R'batis wanting to go to Hay Riad or Témara. A phenomenon accentuated by the reduced number of the bus fleet, which remains below the mobility pace of the population. However, the extension of the tramway network to these areas remains largely dependent on financing and the mobilisation of the necessary funds. On this aspect, it should be remembered that the cost price of a kilometre of tramway is estimated at nearly 85 million DH and if we include the rolling stock, the cost can reach up to 150 million DH. At the present time, the turnover generated is estimated at 115 million DH intended to cover operating costs.

Added to this are the financial costs of investment loans as well as the operating expenses of the STRS. Thus, to reach equilibrium, it will be necessary to count on a turnover of 180 million DH.

The total length of the Tram network operated for the two lines is approximately 20 km with 31 stations. It is line 1, known as the "structuring line of the conurbation". It extends from Hay Karima in Salé to the university campus "Madinat Al Irfane", passing through Agdal, with a route in the city centre thus connecting the major emitting/attracting poles of the conurbation, the university domain (Bab Al Irfane) and the hospital domain of Souissi. As for line 2, it serves the dense neighbourhoods of Océan, Akkari and Bettana in Salé. All with a common trunk for crossing the Bouregreg at the level of the new Moulay Al Hassan bridge going from Place Cardonna in Salé to Place Al Joulane in Rabat.

-* Studies for the extension of the Rabat Tram network will be launched shortly. Hay Riad, Yaâcoub Al Mansour, Salé Al Jadida are targeted.

-* An opportunity to decongest public transport.