ONCF announces an investment of 29 billion dirhams for the acquisition of new trains.

The National Office of Railways (ONCF) announced on Wednesday the completion of contracts for its new train acquisition program, with a total value of 29 billion dirhams (MAD). This initiative is part of ONCF’s development cycle leading up to 2030, under the visionary guidance of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

The program aims to achieve two main objectives: to renew ONCF’s existing fleet and to accommodate the growth of rail traffic, along with upcoming development projects. Such projects include the extension of the high-speed rail line from Kénitra to Marrakech and the development of new suburban rail services similar to ‘RER’ in major regions of the Kingdom.

The awarding of contracts follows a competitive process that began over a year ago, conducted through a dialogue with key manufacturers in the global railway industry. Three contracts were awarded to the companies that submitted the most advantageous offers:

• 18 High-Speed Trains: This contract was awarded to a consortium comprising the French company ALSTOM Transport S.A. and ALSTOM Railways Morocco.
• 40 Intercity Trains: This contract was awarded to the Spanish company Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF).
• 110 RER Trains (Rapid Shuttle and Metropolitan Trains): This contract was awarded to the South Korean company Hyundai Rotem.

These contracts include commitments for industrial compensation, involving the development of industrial activities in Morocco to support the national railway ecosystem. This includes the establishment of a local factory for suburban train manufacturing. The industrial development also aims to strengthen the long-term export ambitions for these trains.

Additionally, maintenance partnerships will be formed with the manufacturers to manage the upkeep of the acquired trains over several years. The awarding of these contracts has been facilitated by highly concessional funding from the home countries of the partners.

This program aligns with a strategy to solidify the role of railways as a cornerstone of sustainable mobility in Morocco and to support the Kingdom’s ambitions, particularly in co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.