A rail boom is gathering speed in North Africa as governments pour billions into new transportation infrastructure, betting that bullet trains and expanded networks will unlock trade, stimulate growth and project modernity.

A prime example is Egypt, where Transport Minister Kamel al-Wazir told reporters on May 25 that Cairo aims to link its expanding rail system with a broader transcontinental trade network connecting Asia and Europe, an ambition that could gain in urgency as Red Sea shipping disruptions upend global trade routes. Fittingly, the country’s flagship high-speed line, currently under construction, has been dubbed the "Suez Canal on rails."

Morocco, however, is leading the charge in the region. In April, King Mohammed VI approved a $10 billion rail expansion that would double the size of Africa’s first high-speed rail network amid preparations for the 2030 World Cup. 

Notably, Algeria and Tunisia also recently laid tracks with the aim of developing better rail links. In August 2024, they resumed cross-border service after nearly 30 years, a rare step toward integration in a region where rivalries and instability have fragmented connectivity.