The final US$200 million contract has been awarded for the Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed rail line. This is the eighth contract for civil engineering works that has been awarded to the Société Générale des Travaux du Maroc (SGTM). It involves earthwork operations and engineering structures in the Bouregreg Valley region.
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How big is the Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed rail line
This high-speed rail project is aimed to reduce travel time between Marrakech and Tangier which currently takes 7 hours, down to 2 hours and 45 minutes. Spanning 430 kilometers, the project will be electrified for 64% of the line. The current railway network already includes 200 kilometers of high-speed lines along with prospects for future expansions. What’s more, there will be potential extensions from Marrakech to Agadir. Official reports show that Morocco’s National Railways Office (ONCF), is working to purchase 168 new trains to modernize its fleet. These trains will also accommodate the growing passenger demand.
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The US$5.3 billion Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed rail line is funded partly by a US$14 billion loan from African Development Bank to ONCF. This funding exceeds the initial funding request of US$8.8 billion, however, it will be used to fund other projects such as the Laayoune and Dakhla projects which are currently in the discussion phase for construction.
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The Bigger Picture
The Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed rail project is part of a larger US$8.7 billion plan covering the country’s 2,309 kilometer network that aims to either build new lines or upgrade current infrastructure before the 2030 World Cup. Other Moroccan companies that have won contracts for this project include TGCC, Jet Contractors, Mojazine Group and STAM. Chinese engineering companies have also won a significant number of contracts for this project. They include CRCC 20, China Railway No.04 Engineering and Shandong Hi-Speed Engineering-Construction.
