Morocco Snubs Alstom in Major Train Contract, Favors Asian and Spanish Firms

A setback for a consortium led by Alstom France, Alstom Italy, Alstom Spain and Alstom Morocco in Morocco. The National Railway Office (ONCF) has excluded the French industrial group from the race to manufacture 150 conventional trains (through three lots: 40 intercity, 60 high-speed shuttles and 50 commuter trains) and maintain them for 20 years. The Spanish Talgo and the Chinese CRCC suffered the same fate. The ONCF has selected the South Korean Hyundai Rotem and the Spanish CAF. Each will have to submit a more attractive offer to win this major contract.

Hyundai could outdo CAF. The South Korean manufacturer had proposed, during a visit in July, to build a train manufacturing plant in Morocco and carry out a technology transfer. A definite advantage for him. The ONCF "will now refine its specifications and launch a call for tenders with these two selected industrialists", BFMTV reports.

For now, Alstom refuses to comment on its elimination. "As the tenders are still ongoing, we cannot comment on them," explained the French industrial group. However, it has a consolation prize: it has been chosen to deliver 18 high-speed trains from the Avelia Horizon family to Morocco.