After finalizing the purchase of 110 regional trains from South Korean manufacturer Hyundai Rotem, the National Railway Office (ONCF) awarded a major contract to Spanish company CAF for the supply of 40 intercity trains, valued at up to 600 million euros (around 6.5 billion dirhams). In the first phase of a large-scale project to strengthen its railway fleet ahead of the 2030 World Cup, the ONCF chose CAF over Spanish manufacturer Talgo for the intercity trains. This is part of a global tender for 150 new trains, which will be gradually introduced into service by 2030. The project to modernize and expand Morocco's railway network also includes the acquisition of 110 regional express trains (RER), awarded to Hyundai Rotem, beating out CAF and Chinese manufacturer CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co. In total, ONCF plans to acquire 168 new trains—intercity, high-speed commuter trains, and RERs—along with 18 very high-speed trains (TGV). The full investment for the project is approximately 1.8 billion euros (about 19 billion dirhams), aimed at modernizing and developing the country's railway infrastructure in preparation for major events, including the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
