Five major international contractors are bidding for five major station developments in Morocco’s high-speed rail expansion project, which is part of the country’s $10.1 billion national railway program. The Kenitra-Marrakech corridor project is therefore a huge construction opportunity of 430 km. The contractors are focusing on the stations of LGV Ville Verte de Benguerir, RER Ville Verte de Benguerir, Sidi Bouathmane, Sidi Ghanem and Stade de Marrakech.
In the meantime, the African Development Bank has arranged €405 million (about $463.1 million) in financing for the Morocco high-speed rail project. As Morocco implements its Rail Plan 2040, construction companies are considering bid strategies for the station developments. In particular, the five major stations are significant contractor opportunities in the overall network modernization program. As the project moves into detailed design and procurement, it is expected that competitive bidding will begin. Major developments are making headway across the Arab nation as the the Jeddah Airport Development & Operating Company (Jedco) is outlining the next major expansion phase of King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA), planning to bring six large contractor opportunities to market between 2026 and 2028.
Morocco High-Speed Rail Bids Support Network Expansion to 43 Cities
The Morocco high-speed rail project is an extension of the existing Al Boraq line from Casablanca to Marrakech, which will significantly improve the country’s high-speed rail network. Infrastructure needs for five strategically located stations for regional connectivity and passenger flow will be discussed by contractors bidding for the project. In particular, the €205 million PADIF financing is used for infrastructure extension and capacity building to allow station construction and integration. The national railway program has a total budget of 53 billion dirhams (about $5.6 billion) for infrastructure and equipment and 29 billion dirhams for the purchase of 168 trains.
AfDB Financing Strengthens Morocco High-Speed Rail Project Viability
Morocco and the African Development Bank inked financing deals totaling €405 million for the high-speed rail project and conventional line upgrades. Specifically, €200 million supports the “Cap Compétences 2030” program while €205 million finances the Railway Infrastructure Development Support Project. In addition, the AfDB commitment offers financial security for the procurement of contractors and construction scheduling of the five planned stations.
Project Overview
- Project Name: Morocco High-Speed Rail Kenitra-Marrakech Extension
- Total Program Value: $10.1 Billion
- AfDB Financing: €405 Million ($463.1 Million)
- PADIF Allocation: €205 Million ($235.1 Million)
- Location: Kenitra-Marrakech Corridor, Morocco
- Route Length: 430 kilometers
- Status: Contractor bids under preparation, financing signed September 17, 2026
Scope
- Five major station developments
- High-speed rail network extension
- Capacity and operations improvements
- Conventional line modernization
- Multimodal transport hub integration
Project Highlights
- Major contractor bidding opportunities
- €405 million AfDB financing secured
- Extends Al Boraq line to Marrakech
- Serves 43 cities upon full implementation
- 168 new trains being procured
Key Developments
- Contractor bids under preparation September 2026
- Morocco-AfDB financing agreements signed September 17, 2026
- Cap Compétences 2030 program €200 million allocation
- PADIF infrastructure financing €205 million
- National railway program valued at $10.1 billion
Key Challenges
- Managing five concurrent station bids
- Competitive contractor selection process
- Integrating new infrastructure with existing lines
- Meeting 43-city expansion timeline
- Multimodal hub coordination
Outlook
- Contractor selection expected late 2026
- Station construction commencing 2027
- High-speed service launch timeline TBD
- Conventional commuter rail expansion
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