Morocco to buy 18 fast trains ahead of World Cup with French loans

In a sign of deepening economic ties between Paris and Rabat, France is to lend Morocco €781 million to finance the purchase of 18 high-speed trains made by Alstom, the French embassy in Rabat said on March 7th according to Reuters.

The purchase of the trains is part of a plan to extend the high-speed rail network from the western city of Kenitra to Marrakech in preparation for the 2030 World Cup that Morocco is to co-host along with Spain and Portugal.

The embassy put out a statement saying that Alstom will provide Moroccan state-owned rail operator ONCF with Avelia Horizon double-decker trains, which can carry 640 passengers at a speed of 320 km per hour.

Reuters