Morocco launches $10bln rail expansion plan.
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI gave the go-ahead on Thursday for a rail expansion plan worth 96 billion dirhams ($10.3 billion), including the construction of a high-speed line to Marrakesh, the country’s main tourist hub, by 2030, state media reported.
Morocco’s preparations to co-host the World Cup in 2030, together with Spain and Portugal, has spurred the extension of the high-speed, intercity and urban rail networks. The country also hopes the investments will help develop its nascent rail industry.
The new high-speed line, worth 53 billion dirhams, will start from Kenitra on the Atlantic coast and run 430 kilometres south to Marrakesh, serving Rabat and Casablanca along the way.
Designed for a speed of 350 kilometres per hour, the line will cut the journey between Marrakesh and Tangier by two hours, to 2 hours and 40 minutes, while travel time between Rabat and Casablanca’s main airport will be reduced to 35 minutes.
Moroccan state-owned rail operator ONCF announced in February that it had signed deals to purchase 168 trains from France, Spain and South Korea for 29 billion dirhams.
Source: Zawya
