- | 1:00 pm
France loans Morocco $846 million for high-speed trains ahead of 2030 FIFA World Cup
These double-decker trains, capable of carrying up to 640 passengers, can reach speeds of up to 320 km/h.
Morocco is making substantial investments in transport infrastructure in preparation for co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal. To accelerate these developments, France has extended a loan of $846 million to finance the purchase of 18 high-speed trains for the Office National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF), the national railway operator.
According to a statement from the French Embassy, the loan, issued by the French treasury, is part of a financial cooperation agreement signed on October 28, 2024, during President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Morocco.
French railway company Alstom will supply its Avelia Horizon trains to ONCF for the high-speed rail line connecting Kenitra to Marrakech, which links Tangier with Marrakech. These double-decker trains, capable of carrying up to 640 passengers, will reach speeds of up to 320 km/h.
The trains will be manufactured at Alstom’s factories in France, while its facilities in Fez will produce electrical cabinets and cable harnesses for the trains.
Christophe Lecourtier, France’s Ambassador to Morocco, highlighted the strong Franco-Moroccan collaboration in railway development, noting that the Tangier-Kenitra high-speed line served nearly five million passengers in 2024.
Featured Videos
Today's Top Stories:
More Top Stories:
FROM OUR PARTNERS
