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Morocco Kenitra–Marrakech High-Speed Rail Extension

Country
Morocco
Sector
Infrastructure
Intelligence Type
Project
Status / Stage
Procurement Preparation
Estimated Value
MAD Billion (~USD 5.3bn) 53
Confidence
Confirmed

Morocco is extending its existing high-speed rail (LGV) network with a 430km extension from Kenitra (north of Casablanca) to Marrakech, at an estimated cost of 53 billion MAD (~$5.3bn). The project was launched by King Mohammed VI in April 2025, with procurement beginning in 2025. Morocco’s first LGV (Tangier–Casablanca, 322km) opened in 2018. The Kenitra–Marrakech extension will complete a high-speed spine connecting Tangier in the north to Marrakech in the south, passing through Casablanca and linking Morocco’s three major economic and tourist cities.

Project Details

Project TypeHigh-speed rail extension (LGV) — new build
Project OwnerOffice National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF) — Morocco National Railway
Project SponsorMoroccan Government / King Mohammed VI
Start DateProcurement launched 2025
Expected CompletionConstruction: 2026-2030 (estimated)
Current PhaseProcurement
Funding StatusPartial

Key Issues / Risks

Morocco's first LGV was over budget and took longer than originally planned. The extension runs through geologically more complex terrain south of Casablanca toward the Atlas foothills near Marrakech.

Latest Development (Detail)

Procurement launched 2025; engineering and design work underway. No confirmed EPC contractor appointment as of August 2026. The project is proceeding in the context of Morocco's broader infrastructure preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup (co-hosted with Spain and Portugal).

What Happens Next

EPC tender award and FID — the key milestone that converts this from a procurement-stage project to a confirmed build.

Commercial Opportunity

One of the largest rail construction projects in Africa currently at procurement stage.

Stakeholder Intelligence

Key Organizations / Companies InvolvedONCF; French development finance (AFD — financed the first LGV); EU (potential involvement given Morocco's EU partnership); Moroccan Ministry of Transport

Procurement & Contract Outlook

Expected Next MilestoneEPC contract award (2026 (expected))

Commercial Opportunity Intelligence

Potential BeneficiariesEuropean rail contractors (Alstom, Siemens, CAF, Bombardier/Alstom — all compete for LGV systems); civil engineering majors; Moroccan construction companies; World Cup tourism infrastructure beneficiaries
Opportunity SignalMorocco's second LGV — at procurement stage right now, connecting all three of Morocco's major cities for the first time.
Commercial ReadinessProcurement Ready

Source & Verification Trail

Last VerifiedAugust 2026
Source(s)ONCF official announcements; Moroccan Ministry of Transport; Construction Review Online; Railway Gazette International
Source Date2025–2026