Doha – Morocco is set to supercharge its high-speed rail ambitions. Alstom, a global giant in mobility solutions, has inked a deal to supply 18 next-generation Avelia Horizon trains to the country’s national rail operator, ONCF.
Confirmed in an official press release today, the €781 million contract is financed entirely through a French Treasury loan to the Moroccan government and was recorded in Alstom’s Q4 2024/2025 fiscal year.
The deal follows a financial cooperation agreement in the railway sector, which France and Morocco signed during President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the country in October 2024.
The new double-decker trains, capable of speeds exceeding 300 km/h, will operate on the extended high-speed line connecting Tangier to Marrakech, building upon the existing Tangier-Casablanca route.
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Each train will accommodate 640 passengers and is scheduled for delivery by 2030, coinciding with Morocco’s co-hosting of the FIFA World Cup.
“The extension of the high-speed line to Marrakech will enhance connectivity for travelers. Alstom’s new double-decker Avelia Horizon trains will significantly reduce travel time between Tangier and Marrakech while minimizing the carbon footprint,” Alstom stated in the announcement.
“This financing of an exceptional amount consecrates the remarkable Franco-Moroccan partnership in railways, which has already led to the immense success of the high-speed line between Tangier and Kenitra that transported nearly 5 million passengers in 2024,” French Ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier, previously said in a statement.
The selection of Alstom’s bid was influenced by the double-deck design of the Avelia Horizon, giving it an advantage over single-level models proposed by competitors CAF, Talgo, and Hyundai Rotem.
Alstom’s century-long presence in Morocco, including two manufacturing facilities employing 1,200 people, played a crucial role in securing the contract. The company has previously supplied the country with trains, locomotives, signaling systems, and 240 tramways for Rabat and Casablanca.
The latest order builds upon France’s previous investment in Morocco’s rail infrastructure, which included 51% financing for the country’s first high-speed line inaugurated in 2018, a project valued at €2 billion.
The Avelia Horizon trains feature innovative shorter power cars combining high performance and compactness, along with articulated two-level passenger cars.
The design includes fewer bogies, which typically account for 30% of maintenance costs, contributing to reduced operating expenses while maintaining exceptional service levels.
