French company Alstom officially announced on Friday the signing of a contract with Morocco’s national railway operator, ONCF, to supply 18 high-speed Avelia Horizon trains, with a total value of €781 million, following financing secured by Morocco from France.
According to French media reports quoting Alstom, the deal falls within the framework of expanding Morocco’s high-speed rail network by extending the existing Tangier-Casablanca line to Marrakech.
The new trains, which will be manufactured under this agreement, belong to the same family as the TGV M models used by the French national railway company (SNCF), which are scheduled to enter service next year on the southeastern line in France.
French media reports added that the new Avelia Horizon trains will be double-decker units with a capacity of 640 passengers and a top speed of 320 km/h, based on specifications announced by Alstom.
It is worth noting that earlier this March, France announced the approval of a €781 million loan to Morocco for the purchase of the 18 high-speed Avelia Horizon trains from Alstom, intended for ONCF as part of the high-speed line extension project to Marrakech.
According to a statement issued by the French Embassy at the time, the loan falls within a broader financial cooperation agreement in the railway sector, signed on October 28, 2024, during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Morocco and his meeting with King Mohammed VI.
In the statement, French Ambassador to Morocco Christophe Lecourtier hailed the loan as a reflection of the “strong partnership between France and Morocco in the railway sector,” noting that “France and its companies will remain key partners in Morocco’s ambitious high-speed rail expansion to Marrakech—a project that supports the Kingdom’s economic development and aligns with preparations for the 2030 World Cup.”
The statement added that Alstom, which has operated in Morocco for nearly a century, will manufacture the 18 new double-decker trains, each capable of carrying up to 640 passengers and reaching speeds of 320 km/h.
The trains will be produced at Alstom’s factories in France before being shipped and tested in Morocco. Additionally, Alstom’s factory in Fez will contribute to the production of electrical cabinets and cable harnesses, thus strengthening Morocco’s railway ecosystem and supporting local expertise.
This loan is part of a broader procurement plan announced by ONCF, which involves acquiring 168 new trains from various international companies, with a total investment of €2.8 billion, aimed at upgrading the country’s rail infrastructure in preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The selection of suppliers followed a competitive process lasting more than a year and resulted in the awarding of contracts to three major companies: Alstom (France) for high-speed trains, CAF (Spain) for intercity trains, and Hyundai Rotem (South Korea) for commuter trains.
The plan also includes the construction of a local factory for commuter trains, as part of Morocco’s strategy to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity and develop its rail industry, with prospects of exporting to regional and international markets.
Long-term maintenance contracts will be implemented in cooperation between ONCF and the selected manufacturers, ensuring the new fleet’s operational sustainability and long-term efficiency.
