Some 40,000 persons take train daily in Morocco, executive

Some 40,000 persons take the train daily in Morocco and the number reaches 70,000 passengers during summer and religious holidays, said director general of the Moroccan railways office "ONCF," Karim Ghellab.

The executive told "L'Economiste" in an interview published Thursday the average occupancy rate of the 136 daily trips does not exceed 50%. To make the supply fit the demand, the office adapts its transport plan to the seasonal aspect of the traffic and reinforces its supply every year, Ghellab said.

"Trains were the target of 1,750 stone-throwing acts in 2002, resulting in losses estimated at one million Dirhams (US$ 10,000). He added that train windows will be reinforced with a protecting plastic film, which will cost some 2 million dirhams (US$20,000).