Vossloh Services France and Portuguese company Futrifer Indústrias Ferroviárias have launched a joint venture “Vossloh Futrifer Services Maroc” to provide maintenance services to the rapidly developing rail transport market in the Kingdom.
The JV based in Casablanca is specialized in railway Switches and Crossings (S&C) which are critical track components that guide trains from one track to another. This requires precise engineering, manufacturing, and maintenance.
The new subsidiary offers its know-how in mobile rail welding work (manual and robot-assisted), rail grinding, rail milling and track maintenance activities in general. These services will be provided on the national network belonging to Morocco’s state-owned railway operator ONCF and on the urban networks of Casablanca and Rabat.
Operations will commence initially using experienced teams from Vossloh Services France and Futrifer, who have been collaborating successfully in France since 2024.
Starting 2027, the new unit will employ and train Moroccan workers in order to consolidate the presence in the region and build up some lasting local expertise. Vossloh is also taking part in an industry-wide initiative to establish a rail industry training center in Morocco.
“With the Vossloh Futrifer Services Maroc joint venture, we are enhancing our position in North Africa and promoting sustainable mobility in one of the continent’s most dynamic markets”, says Marcel Taubert, Managing Director of Vossloh Rail Services.
For his part, Joaquim Dias Amaro, Futrifer’s Vice-President, says this new company promotes the development of new experiences in the Kingdom, expanding Futrifer international footprint in rail services.
Morocco is investing heavily in the expansion of its rail network with the “Morocco Rail Plan 2040” providing for the construction of up to 1300 km of high-speed lines. Vossloh has already been active in Morocco for several decades and in 2024 received a major order to deliver rail fastening and switch systems for the construction of the new high-speed line between Casablanca and Marrakesh.