Alstom at the heart of the Tangier-Casablanca high-speed line’s inauguration in Morocco

15 November 2018 – Alstom participates today in the inauguration of the Tangier-Casablanca high speed line with its very high-speed trains supplied and delivered to the Office National des Chemins de Fer Marocain (ONCF). The line has been inaugurated by His Majesty, King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Alstom supplied ONCF with 12 very high-speed trains for the Tangier-Casablanca railway section. Alstom also supplied the level 1&2 on-board ERTMS[1] for the trains.  

“We are extremely proud to bring high speed rail for the first time to the African continent. This inauguration is a significant milestone for this prestigious project which will allow Moroccan people to benefit from an incredible passenger experience thanks to our reliable, safe and comfortable Avelia very high-speed trains. Alstom is committed to remaining a close and long-term partner for Morocco, addressing its mobility needs and supporting its upcoming transport projects,” declared Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Alstom Chairman and CEO.

The trains will run at 320 km/h between Tangier and Kenitra, the first 180-km long section of the network. Between Kenitra and Casablanca (200 km), the trains will join the conventional network where they will run at 160 km/h. The service will connect these main economic regions of the country, in 2 hours and 10 minutes instead of 4hours and 45 minutes.

Avelia Euroduplex trainsets for Morocco are articulated double-deck trains adapted to specific climate and environment conditions. With a capacity of 533 passengers, each trainset is composed of 8 cars including two first-class cars, a dining car and five second class cars. Trains integrate the latest developments in terms of comfort and accessibility. One part of the train is fully dedicated for people with reduced mobility. Trains are also equipped with digital passenger information systems, bilingual in Arabic and French. They benefit from the proven Avelia range of high speed trains, which boasts more than 1,100 trains in commercial service.

Avelia Euroduplex very high speed trains for this project were manufactured in Alstom sites in France: La Rochelle, Belfort, Ornans, Tarbes, Le Creusot, Petit Quevilly, Villeurbanne, Saint-Ouen, Reichshoffen.

Alstom, present in Morocco for over 40 years, supports the country in its most important mobility projects, from urban to main lines, and has always been at the service of its customers and partners in the development of the country’s rail infrastructure.

[1] European Rail Traffic Management System