Morocco has taken a significant step forward in its ambitious plans to enhance its transportation infrastructure by issuing a tender for a high-speed rail link connecting Kenitra on the northwest coast to Marrakech in the south, as part of its $37 billion strategy.
The tender, issued by the national rail operator ONCF, seeks proposals from companies for the construction of a 375km line traversing major metropolitan areas including Rabat-Salé, Casablanca, and Marrakech. Divided into seven lots ranging from 36km to 64km, the project aims to facilitate trains operating at speeds of up to 350km per hour.
In addition to the railway construction, the tender includes provisions for building stations, implementing signaling and telecommunications systems, and establishing a maintenance center in Marrakech.
Interested companies have until June 23 to submit their proposals to ONCF, marking a pivotal moment in Morocco’s efforts to bolster its rail network. The project has garnered attention from various stakeholders, with construction engineering specialist Egis appointed as the general consultant in 2022, according to the International Railway Journal.
The high-speed rail initiative forms part of Morocco’s broader $37 billion plan aimed at revamping its rail infrastructure, which aims to link 43 cities and generate 300,000 jobs by 2040. The ambitious endeavor seeks to significantly increase access to rail transportation, targeting 87 percent of the population by 2040, compared to just over 50 percent presently.
