France will provide Morocco with a 781 million euro loan to purchase 18 high-speed trains from Alstom, the French embassy in Rabat announced Friday.
This funding supports Morocco’s ambitious plan to extend its high-speed rail network to Marrakech before the 2030 World Cup.
The tournament will be co-hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal.
Alstom will deliver Avelia Horizon double-decker trains to Morocco’s state-owned rail operator, ONCF.
These trains can carry 640 passengers and reach speeds of 320 km/h. The expansion aims to connect more cities, reaching 43 by 2040, and serve 87% of the Moroccan population.
ONCF also secured loans from Spain and South Korea to buy 150 additional trains.
In February, ONCF revealed plans to acquire 110 urban trains from South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem for $1.5 billion.
They also intend to purchase 40 intercity trains from Spain’s CAF for $813 million. These deals include investments to boost Morocco’s emerging rail industry.
The expansion of the rail network is a pivotal part of Morocco’s infrastructure development ahead of the 2030 World Cup.