Morocco green lights $10 billion rail expansion plan
Morocco's preparations to co-host the World Cup in 2030, together with Spain and Portugal, has spurred the extension of the high-speed, intercity and urban rail networks.
The country also hopes the investments will help develop its nascent rail industry.
The new high-speed line, worth 53 billion dirhams, will start from Kenitra on the Atlantic coast and run 430 kilometres south to Marrakesh, serving Rabat and Casablanca along the way.
Designed for a speed of 350 kilometres per hour, the line will cut the journey between Marrakesh and Tangier by two hours, to 2 hours and 40 minutes, while travel time between Rabat and Casablanca's main airport will be reduced to 35 minutes.
Moroccan state-owned rail operator ONCF announced in February that it had signed deals to purchase 168 trains from France, Spain and South Korea for 29 billion dirhams.
France's Alstom will supply ONCF with Avelia Horizon double-decker high-speed trains that can carry 640 passengers and cruise at a speed of 320 kilometres per hour.
The other trains are mainly intercity and urban trains, with ONCF planning to double the number of cities it serves to 43, covering 87% of the Moroccan population by 2040.
The purchase deals also include investments in the country's rail industry.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
2 days ago
- France 24
Portugal's Joao Felix joins Ronaldo at Al Nassr in Saudi
Felix, now 25, made a blockbuster move from Benfica to Atletico Madrid in 2019, but has since seen his fortunes decline. "I'm here to spread joy. Let's win together," said Felix in a video posted on the Riyadh club's X account. A separate post said he had signed until 2027. Felix remains one of the most expensive transfers in history, following his move to Atletico for 127.7 million euros ($147.3 million) six years ago. He has since failed to score more than 10 goals a season, despite stints at Barcelona, AC Milan and Chelsea. According to Arryadia, a Riyadh sports newspaper, Felix will earn $10 million a year. Saudi Arabia has shaken up football by spending heavily on stars from Europe, starting with Ronaldo's arrival in 2023, and the conservative desert nation will host the World Cup in 2034. Many of the signings have been ageing stars, but Felix bucks the trend along with Mateo Retegui, 26, the Serie A top-scorer who joined Al Qadsiah last week. French international Theo Hernandez, 27, left AC Milan for Al Hilal in a reported $29 million deal earlier this month. Top coaches have also been lured to Saudi Arabia, including Italy's Simone Inzaghi who led Al Hilal to an upset win over Manchester City at the Club World Cup. At Al Nassr, Felix will be working under Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, who was sacked by Al Hilal in May following their defeat in the Asian Champions League semi-finals.
Fashion Network
6 days ago
- Fashion Network
England football shirts fly off shelves as Lionesses prep for Euros final
Good news for US sportswear giant Nike and retail operator Fanatics. Supporters of The Lionesses — England's women's football team — have been scrambling to buy the replica shirts ahead of their appearance in the Euros finals on Sunday (27 July) against Adidas -sponsored Spain. New data from Adobe has revealed that online sales of England shirts surged by 750% following the Lionesses' last-gasp semi-final victory on Tuesday (22 July) when compared to average daily levels over the past 30 days. This surge is 6% higher than the spike seen after the Lionesses' World Cup semi-final victory in 2023, showing 'how major cultural moments can drive significant uplift in online spending', said Adobe. Meanwhile, shirt sales, alongside other merchandise, are confirmed far higher than during the team's 2023 World Cup run, reports City AM. Global retailer Fanatics, which operates England's official stores, said its sales of Lionesses' products were up 41% compared to the same stage of the last major tournament. It said consumer demand has gathered pace with sales increasing 26% week-on-week as the Lionesses have progressed in the tournament as the team competes in its third consecutive major final in six years. Since the Euros tournament began, search demand for women's football shirts have also soared 400% as fans across Europe 'are in the grip of the 'Lioness Effect' ahead of the final', according to data from Net World Sports. It reveals that 28% of football kit revenue through its platform have come from women since the Euros began.
Fashion Network
6 days ago
- Fashion Network
England football shirts fly off shelves as Lionesses prep for Euros final
Meanwhile, shirt sales, alongside other merchandise, are confirmed far higher than during the team's 2023 World Cup run, reports City AM. Global retailer Fanatics, which operates England's official stores, said its sales of Lionesses' products were up 41% compared to the same stage of the last major tournament. It said consumer demand has gathered pace with sales increasing 26% week-on-week as the Lionesses have progressed in the tournament as the team competes in its third consecutive major final in six years. Since the Euros tournament began, search demand for women's football shirts have also soared 400% as fans across Europe 'are in the grip of the 'Lioness Effect' ahead of the final', according to data from Net World Sports. It reveals that 28% of football kit revenue through its platform have come from women since the Euros began.
