Morocco to start manufacturing trains in 2030

As Morocco expands its rail network, it also works to become a manufacturing hub with the first Morocco-made trains expected to be on the market in 2030, Mohamed Samouni head of Morocco Train Industry Cluster said.

Speaking to Medias24, he noted that Moroccan train exports will have to wait until 2035.

Samouni, who is also vice director general of Moroccan train operator ONCF, said Morocco wants to emulate the success of the automotive industry in the rail sector.

Morocco has already launched a tender to set up a train-manufacturing industrial plant that is planned to start at a local sourcing rate of 30% before scaling that up to 70%.

The winners of the bid will be revealed between December and February next year, he said.

Morocco has an ambitious rail expansion plan that would require 40 billion dollars in investments by 2040.

The country plans to expand its high-speed train network to Marrakech and Agadir and will increase the number of cities served by the train to 43.