Hommam Al Nassim 
Morocco has announced a tender for a high-speed rail line as part of its $37 billion strategy to connect more of its cities, ports, and airports by train.
The Moroccan railway operator is looking for companies to build a 375-kilometre line stretching from Kenitra on the northwest coast to Marrakech in the south.
The project, which is being presented in seven plots ranging in size from 36 kilometers to 64 kilometers, will pass through the urban areas of Rabat-Salé, Casablanca and Marrakech.
The tender includes the design and construction of the railway line to accommodate trains running at speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour, as well as stations, signals, communications, and a maintenance center in Marrakech.
The announcement gave companies until June 23 to apply to the ONCF, according to the International Railways Magazine.
The high-speed line is part of a $37 billion plan to improve Morocco’s rail network, which aims to connect a total of 43 cities and create 300,000 jobs by 2040.
It is hoped that 87% of the population will have access to rail transport on that date, compared to just over 50% today.
Morocco’s railway network is 1,200 kilometers long, according to the U.S. government’s Department of International Trade. About 120 stations serve passengers and 15 stations serve freight.
Cities such as Agadir, Fez, Marrakech, and Tangier also plan to build tram or light rail lines, the agency said.
Last November, five years after the launch of Morocco’s first high-speed line, linking Tangier to Casablanca, the ONCF said it planned to order 168 trains, including 18 high-speed vehicles.
The delivery schedule runs between 2027 and 2030, according to the ONCF.
The railway company said improving services was important for Morocco as it prepares to co-host the 2030 World Cup.
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