The Kenitra–Marrakech high-speed rail project is a planned railway development in Morocco aimed at improving passenger rail connectivity between major cities. The proposed line is approximately 375 km in length and is intended to enhance national transport infrastructure.
The Office National des Chemins de Fer has issued a tender for the project, seeking contractors to deliver seven sections of the rail line, each ranging between 36 km and 64 km. The scope includes construction as well as associated infrastructure works.
The project is being supported by engineering consultancy Egis, which is involved in the development of the scheme. The contract scope includes rail construction, station development, signalling systems, and the establishment of a maintenance facility in Marrakech.
The high-speed rail line forms part of Morocco’s broader railway development strategy under a long-term master plan valued at approximately $37 billion. The plan aims to expand rail connectivity across cities, ports, and airports and increase national access to rail transport by 2040.
Other Projects
Other than the Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed railway, the Cairo monorail project in Egypt has officially commenced commercial operations. Alstom, in partnership with Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors announced the project’s commercial operations. Noted as Africa’s first monorail project, it marks an important milestone for urban mobility in the Cairo metropolitan area and connecting the Egyptian capital’s new administrative and residential developments. The Cairo monorail project has a total length of 56 km and includes 22 stations. Of these, 16 are already operational and serving passengers commercially.
Deadline of the Kentira-Marrakech high-speed railway Tender
Interested companies or firms have been given a deadline of 23 June to express their interests in the Kentira-Marrakech high-speed railway project.
After a successful execution of the $2.1 billion high-speed railway project that runs from Tangier to Casablanca, Morocco planned for the extension of the existing railway line to the city of Marrakech and then extend it further to Agadir. The funding of the project would be obtained from a public-private partnership deal.
Morocco sought French help for the construction of the Tangier line and was accorded with $625 million loan from the French side. $80 million was acquired from the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development. It was constructed by the Moroccan contractor Société Générale des Travaux du Maroc who partnered with some French companies that included Alstom, Ansaldo-Ineo group, and a consortium of Colas Rail-Egis.
First High-Speed Rail in Africa
The 320 km/h Tangier-Casablanca railway link, is quite unique as it stands as the first high-speed railway system in Africa. This high-speed railway was completed in Morocco in the year 2018. This project has significantly reduced the time travel between Tangier and Casablanca from 5 hours to a remarkable 2 hours 10 minutes. The line is also the fastest in the North African, Middle East region, being 20km/h speedier than the recently opened link between Mecca, Jeddah and Medina in Saudi Arabia. The high-speed section runs for 186km from Tangier to Kenitra, just north of Rabat. The remaining section to Casablanca has been upgraded to 160km/h, a speed that will later be increased to 220km/h
The high-speed railway line is part of the plan of the National Office of Railways plan of the year 2040 to link a total of 43 cities and towns with a railway network that comprises of 1,300 km oh high-speed rail and another 3,800 kilometers of conventional track.
Also read: Kenya-Uganda SGR Construction Project to Resume
$3 Billion Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Rail Link Project Recommences in Aba, Eastern Nigeria.
$1.8 billion Funding to be Sought by Tanzania Standard Gauge Railway Project Contractor