The start of the civil engineering works of the LGV extension project linking Kenitra to Marrakech was given following the award of the first lot corresponding to “earthworks, engineering structures, restoration of communication and fencing”. Following the call for tenders, the National Railways Office (ONCF) finally chose the Chinese railway construction specialist, China Railway NO.4 Engineering (CREC 4), which submitted the lowest bid, i.e. 3.4 billion dirhams (MMDH).
The offer of CREC 4 was lower than those proposed by the consortium GRPT SNCE/CAPEP/SEPROB (4 MMDH), GTR (4.2 MMDH), STAM (4.1 MMDH), China Railway 20 TH Bureau Group (3.9 MMDH), GPRT NGE Contracting/Guintoli (4.2 MMDH), China Overseas Engineering Group (3.9 MMDH) and TGCC (4.2 MMDH).
CREC 4 is a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned CRRC Group, the world’s number one manufacturer of railway rolling stock. The latter produces railcars and locomotives and has won contracts in some 116 countries and regions around the world, from major American cities to Latin America and India.
Read also: LGV Kenitra-Marrakech: 3 billion dirhams to strengthen conventional lines
The LGV project includes a set of components: the LGV Kenitra-Marrakech on its own site, the connections of the LGV to existing lines, the development of the stations, the classic Kenitra-Rabat-Casablanca-Marrakech line, the terminal installations, the maintenance bases and the train maintenance workshop.
Regarding the LGV route on a dedicated site, it should connect the Kenitra maintenance base to the north of the Rabat tunnel, then between Aïn Atiq and Zenata, and finally to the Zenata junction point to Marrakech, passing through the new hub of Nouaceur.
