Infrastructure Work accelerates on Morocco’s high-speed rail By Pramod Kumar February 10, 2025, 10:22 AM Creative Commons Morocco plans to invest $9.5 billion in projects to expand its rail network in the next five years Morocco has awarded contracts worth €430 million ($444 million) to expand the country’s high-speed rail network ahead of the 2030 Fifa World Cup, according to the successful French bidder. The Office National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF), the national rail operator, awarded three contracts to two subsidiaries of French civil engineering company Colas to extend a high-speed line from Kenitra, an industrial city on the Atlantic coast, inland to Marrakech, a historic tourism and conference centre. The country already operates a Spanish-built TGV high speed train line from Casablanca, the commercial capital on the Atlantic, to Tangier on the Mediterranean. Last month transport and logistics minister Abdul Samad Qayuh said that Morocco was planning to invest nearly 96 billion dirhams ($9.5 billion) to expand its rail network further over the next five years. Morocco aims to double airport capacity by 2030 Morocco to invest $3bn in power projects over five years Morocco’s economy expands 4.3% in Q3 as inflation eases The minister said the country aims to connect 43 cities, 12 airports and 12 seaports by 2040, adding that the rail system currently covers 23 cities, one airport and six ports. Last month, the African Development Bank said the high-speed rail project in Morocco has garnered significant investment attention, with financing offers exceeding $13 billion, above the $8.8 billion target set by the government. The government has already announced investment of 42 billion dirhams in airport expansion by 2030.
