MOROCCO: ONCF has appointed Egis Group to act as general consultant for design work on the long-planned extension of the country’s high speed line from Kénitra to Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech.
A key element in the Rail Morocco 2040 plan, this second section is regarded as a strategically important link that will facilitate connections between the country’s major cities.
The contract announced on November 8 has been divided into three work packages: Kénitra – Ain Sebaa (150 km), Ain Sebaa – Nouaceur (assorted works totalling 130 km) and Nouaceur – Marrakech (212 km). The central section includes design of the route through the Casablanca area, where the existing busy main line is to be widened to four tracks over a distance of nearly 60 km in a restrictive urban setting.
According to Egis Rail, co-ordinating the design work for more than 430 km of new line in a relatively short timeframe will be a significant challenge. Each of the design packages must take account of functional and geographical constraints whilst optimising the design and ensuring consistency with the rest of the network. The consultants will work closely with the national railway’s own design office, as well as the engineering, operations, maintenance and commercial departments.
As project owner, ONCF will determine the preferred sequencing of the project phases, taking into account the need to eliminate network bottlenecks, maximise capacity and optimise its overall investment.
Between 2010 and 2018, Egis played a key role in the development of the Tanger – Kénitra high speed line, overseeing civil works on the northern section and undertaking integrated programme management for the track, overhead line and the construction depots.
Designed for 320 km/h operation, the first high speed line on the African continent was opened in November 2018. ONCF operates Al Boraq services between Tanger and Casablanca using a fleet of 12 TGV 2N2 double-deck trainsets supplied by Alstom.
