The French multinational Alstom, specialized in the manufacture of high-speed trains, plans to build a second factory in Morocco, after the one in Fez. A way to court the kingdom, which is preparing to renew its fleet of trains and modernize its rail network before the 2030 World Cup.
The French company Alstom, through its Spanish branch, will supply 80 tramways to Morocco by the end of 2024. This order is part of the extension of lines 3 and 4 of the Casablanca tramway .
Morocco aims to revolutionize its rail network. Major projects are expected in this sector this year and the French equipment manufacturer Alstom, which has produced the first high-speed train in the kingdom, is not planning to miss this opportunity.
Fearing the negative impact of the cooling of diplomatic relations between Morocco and France, a French company is having its Spanish subsidiary enter the competition for the mega-contract of the National Railway Office (ONCF). The latter has launched a call for tenders to acquire 168 new trains, including 18 high-speed trains.
Alstom is strengthening its presence in Morocco with an investment of 160 million dirhams in a second railway equipment manufacturing plant. The site will be dedicated to the production of driver’s cabs for regional trains and metros, generating 200 direct jobs by 2025.
Morocco is preparing to launch an international tender for the acquisition of trains and the development of a local rail network, attracting the interest of major players in the sector, particularly French and Spanish. This is what Mohamed Semmouni, Deputy Managing Director of the National Railways Office (ONCF), revealed during the recent Hispano-Moroccan business forum in Casablanca.
The new Casablanca tramway cars are currently being produced at the Alstom plant in Santa Perpetua de Mogoda, in the Barcelona region. According to Patxi Bueno, director of industry and innovation, interviewed by RFI , these tramways are highly standardized, which allows for time savings and cost reduction.
Alstom, which has one of its factories in Morocco, is part of the TMT consortium to which the NTA public transport agency has awarded the contract to build the green line of the Tel-Aviv light metro. This project is in line with Israel’s investment plan in transportation to reduce traffic jams in Tel-Aviv.
The French company Alstom will face industrialists, particularly Chinese, in the upcoming tenders to be launched by Morocco for these two new high-speed rail lines.
Already established in Fez, the Alstom company has announced new investments, with the creation of a new production line, which will be operational in early 2023.
Casa Transports has awarded Alstom a new 130 million euro contract for the supply of 66 Citadis X05 tramways with an option for 22 additional tramways for the future lines 3 and 4.
Alstom has won a new contract for the equipment of the future lines 3 and 4 of the Casablanca tramway . With this contract, the French company maintains its grip on this type of transport in Morocco.