France announced on Friday the granting of a €781 million loan to Morocco to finance the purchase of 18 high-speed trains of the "Avelia Horizon" model from the French company Alstom. The trains are intended for the National Railway Office (ONCF) as part of the project to extend the high-speed rail line to Marrakech.
According to a statement from the French Embassy, this financial loan, falls within the framework of the financial cooperation agreement in the railway sector, signed on October 28, 2024, during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Morocco, where he met with King Mohammed VI.
The statement also quoted French Ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier, who described the loan as a testament to the strong partnership between France and Morocco in the railway sector. He emphasized that "France and its companies will remain key partners for Morocco in achieving the ambitious extension of the high-speed line to Marrakech, a project that enhances the country's economic development and aligns with Morocco's preparations to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup."
The statement highlighted that Alstom, which has been operating in Morocco for nearly a century, will manufacture the 18 new double-decker trains, each with a capacity of up to 640 passengers and capable of reaching speeds of 320 km/h.
This financing is part of a larger deal announced by the National Railway Office, which involves the acquisition of 168 new trains from multiple global manufacturers, with a total investment of €2.8 billion. The initiative aims to enhance Morocco’s railway network in preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
