France offers Morocco a loan worth €781 million for Purchase of 18 high-speed trains

France has offered Morocco 781 million euros to purchase 18 high-speed trains made by Alstom, as the country develops its rail networks in preparation for the 2030 World Cup.

The deal is part of the 168 trains Moroccan operator ONCF said it picked as it expands the high-speed train network south to Marrakech while extending its urban and intercity train service.

The financing has been agreed during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Morocco in October.

Alstom will sell ONCF Avelia Horizon double-decker trains that have a capacity of 640 passengers and can cruise at a speed of 320 km per hour.

In addition to Alstom, Spain’s CAF will supply 40 inter-city trains and Hyundai Rotem 110 urban trains (RER), ONCF said in February.

A financing deal has also been signed with Spain for a loan of 750 million euros.

These contracts include commitments for industrial compensation, involving the development of industrial activities in Morocco to support the national railway industrial ecosystem.

ONCF ambitions to spur the setting up of a local plant for manufacturing commuter trains, with the aim of developing export ambitions for trains in the medium and long term.

ONCF plans to extend the high-speed train service to Marrakech before the 2030 World Cup. By 2040, Morocco plans to connect 43 cities with the rail network, from only 23 currently, which will benefit 87% of the population.