Morocco Launches Design Studies for Marrakech-Agadir High-Speed Rail Line

The High Speed Line (HSL) between Marrakech and Agadir must, among other things, be interoperable in the sense of the applicable Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) High Speed. The preliminary design studies that have just been launched will allow the design of the HSL for mixed traffic (passengers and freight), its operation at 320 km/h for passenger trains and 100 km/h for freight trains, as well as the commissioning of two bidirectional tracks.

The large-scale project includes, in addition to the construction of the HSL itself, the installations of its connections to the existing line and the existing remote control post in Rabat, the connections to the existing stations and those to be created. "The High Speed Line must be designed so that its performance and safety level are globally at least equivalent to those offered by the Tanger-Kenitra High Speed Line put into service in 2018," says ONCF.

The Office will ensure the consideration of the three technical aspects of the project, including Civil Engineering (interoperability, SNCF civil engineering reference and ONCF technical reference), railway equipment and terminal facilities. The preliminary design studies launched integrate the HSL and the related terminal facilities, specifies ONCF, stressing that the objective is to comply with the technical requirements in terms of interoperability, technical references, operation and maintenance, while assessing the risks.

As part of these studies, the development of the railway facilities diagram, the realization of signaling studies based on the existing, the definition of the principles of equipment control, the design of the fixed t