South Korean Hyundai Rotem Joins Bid for $1.6 Billion Moroccan Train Contract

Hyundai Rotem, a subsidiary of the Hyundai Motor Group conglomerate, specialized in the construction of railway rolling stock, has announced its intention to participate in the ONCF tender for the acquisition of 168 trains, for a total value of 16 billion dirhams, according to the Korean media The Guru. This call for tenders should be completed before July 31 next. Seven 7 pre-selected manufacturers: Hyundai Rotem (Korea), CAF (Spain), Siemens Mobility (Germany), CRRC Group (China), Hitachi Rail STS (Japan-Italy), the French Alstom and its Spanish subsidiary Talgo.

The acquisition of the 168 new trains (150 trains for inter-city services, fast shuttle trains and metropolitan trains, and 18 high-speed trains for the extensions of high-speed lines), which is in line with the vision of King Mohammed VI, aims to strengthen the national rail as the preferred choice for sustainable and inclusive mobility. Morocco will have to receive the first trains in 2027, and the last by the 2030 deadline.

The call for tenders is structured around three components: the purchase of the trains, with a delivery schedule spread over 4 years between 2027 and 2030; the maintenance partnership (establishment by ONCF and the successful bidder of a joint structure, which will be responsible for providing, on behalf of ONCF, the routine and industrial maintenance services for the trains) and industrial development.