The high-speed rail extension connecting Kenitra to Marrakech has reached a significant milestone, as Morocco’s national railway authority has awarded a major contract worth 157 million dirhams to Colas Rail Maroc and its French parent company. This seasoned duo is no stranger to the project, having already secured multiple contracts tied to the country’s growing high-speed rail ambitions.
The contract, officially awarded on September 18 following an open tender launched in July, focuses on upgrading the power infrastructure along the upcoming line. One of the key components of this phase involves converting several existing electrical stations into traction substations operating on 3-kilovolt direct current, a crucial step in ensuring reliable power supply for the high-speed trains.
Interestingly, Colas was the sole bidder for this package, further cementing its central role in Morocco’s high-speed rail development. This latest win is part of a broader set of contracts the company has secured, with its total involvement in the project now amounting to nearly 430 million euros. Colas Rail has been tasked with a wide range of responsibilities, from laying tracks and installing overhead catenary systems to building electrical substations and executing complex civil engineering works.
The current focus on electrical infrastructure marks a critical phase in preparing the southern stretch of the high-speed line. As the project progresses toward Marrakech, this technical upgrade is essential to maintain the performance and reliability that characterized the initial northern segment between Tangier and Kenitra. That first phase was hailed as a major success, and the new extension aims to replicate that achievement by linking the Red City to Casablanca and beyond at record speeds.
