Morocco has awarded the contract for the acquisition of 18 high-speed trains to the French company Alstom for the extension of the line to the southern city of Marrakech as the offer is “more competitive“, announced today the general director of the Moroccan railway office ONCF, Rabie Khlie. A news that has generated diversity of opinions in social networks.
“It is the most competitive offer in the cost of trains, in maintenance and logistical support throughout the life span of these trains and for their strong industrial compensation componentand the support of the French Treasury with a concessional loan to finance this section“, said the Moroccan official in a statement – collected by ‘EFE‘- with the CEO of Alstom, Henri Poupart Lafarge.
In depth
The new line will extend over 400 kilometers and will allow you to make the trip in 2.5 hours instead of four. The idea is that it comes into operation for 2030date on which Portugal, Spain and Morocco They will organize the World Cup.
Later this week, the announcement led by Khlie and Lafarge It took place within the framework of the state visit of the French president, Emmanuel Macronto the Maghreb country. To no one’s surprise, the contract is part of an international competition in which Talgo, CAF, Hyundai Rotem and CRRC.
More details
This is a total of 168 trains (interurban, fast suburban and regional express network) and 18 high-speed trains with a global cost of about 20 billion dirhams (approximately 1.8 billion euros).
As if that were not enough, the announced line represents the extension of a first line called ‘Al Boraq‘from nothing more and nothing less than 200 kilometerswhich links the northern city of Tangier with Casablanca and was inaugurated in 2018 by Mohamed VI and Macron. In 2024, this line is expected to transport about 6 million passengers.
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