MOROCCAN National Railways (ONCF) has published a call for tenders to supply 168 new trains to replace rolling stock reaching the end of its working life, operate on the extension of the country’s high-speed network to Marrakech, and provide more commuter services in Casablanca and Rabat.
As well as 18 high-speed trains, ONCF is looking to acquire 150 trains for its conventional network, to operate inter-city, “rapid shuttle” and commuter services. It says that the new trains will support strong growth in passenger traffic.
Through investment of Dirhams 16bn ($US 1.59bn), ONCF also aims to create a domestic rolling stock manufacturing industry, which it says will provide many economic and social benefits in terms of job creation and strengthening the national industrial base.
A high level of domestic content will ultimately transform Morocco into “a highly competitive platform at the continental and global levels,” according to ONCF.
The national railway says it has received 10 Expressions of Interest (EOI) from “the majority of international rolling stock manufacturers” in response to a call issued in September 2022, and is now launching a call for tenders structured around three components:
- acquisition of 168 new trains to be delivered over a four-year period from 2027 to 2030
- a fleet maintenance partnership that will see ONCF and the manufacturer establish a joint venture to provide routine and heavy maintenance, and
- industrial development, with the selected manufacturer to build a manufacturing plant and develop a railway ecosystem of suppliers and subcontractors with the aim of targeting export markets.
Given the importance and complexity of this project, ONCF says that procurement will be undertaken under a multi-stage competitive dialogue process.
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