Morocco’s High-Speed Rail Expansion: ONCF Clarifies Plans for Marrakech-Agadir Line

As part of the structural and prospective studies for the future development of the national rail network, the ONCF has launched an international tender with a national preference clause, covering the "Detailed infrastructure, civil engineering, railway equipment, railway operating system studies necessary for the high-speed line between Kenitra and Marrakech and at the Casablanca hub", the office specifies in a press release.

The contract is divided into three lots relating to the Kenitra-Aïn Sebaa, Aïn Sebaa-Nouaceur and Nouaceur-Marrakech sections, which have been awarded to Moroccan firms in partnership with French and/or Korean firms, it is further specified. A consortium led mainly (80%) by a renowned national engineering firm with over 40 years of expertise in the field has won the lot relating to the Nouaceur-Marrakech section, the same source said. It was associated with two South Korean companies (20%), for an amount of 66.5 million DH (excluding taxes).

Dozens of Moroccan companies, particularly in public works, have contributed to the completion of this international tender and have accounted for nearly 90% of the amount of civil engineering works and engineering structures, the ONCF continues. And to conclude: "If the expertise of national engineering firms is no longer to be demonstrated, to meet the challenges of titanic projects such as the high-speed line, it is clear that national engineering is fully mobilized to support the continuation and realization of the great development march of the kingdom, led under the far-sighted leadership of King Mohammed VI."