Bombardier Transportation is planning to upgrade the entire 360km-long Casablanca to Tangier-Med rail line in Morocco in order to reduce travel times and increase capacity along the network.
The project forms part of the wider Moroccan State Railway’s (ONCF) modernisation programme, which aims to increase the passenger and freight capacity of the rail corridor to facilitate infrastructure development and economic growth in the country.
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The renovated, first 30km section of the Casablanca to Tanger-Med Line has already begun operating following the installation of Bombardier’s INTERFLO 250 advanced rail control solution.
Bombardier is upgrading the Moroccan network with its mainline solution in two phases, comprising the 130km line from Casablanca to Kénitra and the 230km stretch from Sidi Yahya to the Tangier-Med port.
The company will also provide maintenance services via its Bombardier OPTIFLO rail control services solution installed on the line.
The development is being carried out by the company’s Spanish Centre of Excellence and its Morocco-based project management team.
Bombardier Transportation has been operating in Casablanca since 2011.
The company previously received the contract to overhaul 14 ONCF electric trains operating on the Casablanca-Rabat line, followed by another deal to equip the ONCF line between Casablanca-Kenitra and Sidi Yahya-Tanger with ERTMS Level 1 signalling.
In addition, Bombardier has announced plans to build a new €60m rail factory in Morocco as part of a separate development.
The new plant will comprise an area of around 145,000m² and is expected to employ around 2,000 people, reported Northafricapost.
