The Moroccan National Railway Authority has issued a tender notice for escalators and elevators on the Kenitra to Marrakesh high-speed railway, marking the transition from civil engineering to equipment construction on Africa's longest newly-built high-speed railway line and laying a solid foundation for transportation support for the 2030 World Cup.

Along the Atlantic coast, the 430 kilometer high-speed railway line continues to extend forward. With the steady progress of civil engineering projects, the demand for supporting equipment at stations along the line has been gradually released, and the bidding for 180 million dirhams escalators has landed, becoming an important signal for the project to enter the equipment installation stage. Morocco relies on this main line to improve its national railway network, with multinational enterprises targeting the project track and Chinese enterprises welcoming multi-level cooperation space.

Tendering is fully launched

The total bidding amount for escalators and elevators this time is 180 million dirhams, divided into four sections covering core stations and technical centers in Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakesh. The investment scale of each section varies, involving key stations such as airport hubs and urban passenger stations. The bidding deadline is set for September 3, 2026. At the same time, the railway bureau simultaneously launched a tender for 9 million dirhams of engineering supervision, covering multiple stations and technical centers along the line. The bidding information is sourced from official announcements and has not been widely reported by overseas media.

The project has a grand scale

The Kenitra to Marrakesh high-speed railway is the number one railway infrastructure project in Morocco. The total investment in modernizing the national railway is 96 billion dirhams, of which 53 billion dirhams are invested in this project. The total length of the newly built line is 430 kilometers, and after the full line is opened, the total mileage of Morocco's high-speed railway will reach 610 kilometers. The project is planned to be opened by the end of 2029, serving the transportation of passengers for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Morocco has purchased high-speed trains and regional trains from multiple manufacturers, with a total vehicle procurement amount of approximately 2.9 billion US dollars. As of May 2026, the overall completion rate of the project has reached 30%, and the construction of earthworks, bridges, and tracks is progressing in an orderly manner. Various building materials resources are being implemented in place. Keywords: Morocco high-speed rail, overseas infrastructure opportunities

Hidden opportunities for going abroad

During the civil engineering phase of the project, five Chinese enterprises have already won half of the bid sections. This round of equipment bidding opens a new window of cooperation, with opportunities covering three major fields. Various orders for station mechanical and electrical equipment will continue to be released, and domestic equipment suppliers with international certification will continue to follow up on bidding. The market for engineering supervision and project management is gradually expanding, and consulting companies with overseas experience can actively expand their presence. The operation and maintenance market of the line, which has been in operation for more than ten years, has long-term sustainable commercial value. The construction process of this high-speed railway in Morocco is more than halfway through, and the demand for the subsequent industrial chain continues to be released, which is worth the continuous attention of domestic enterprises.Editor/Min Jing