SYSTRA, heading a consortium consisting of its subsidiary SYSTRA Morocco and the Moroccan Engineering consultants, CID, Team Maroc and ATPE, has just been awarded a contract by The ONCF (Moroccan National Railways Office) to carry out the feasibility studies, the basic design and detailed design, the preparation of tender documents and the construction studies (as an option) for the creation of a high-speed line between Settat and Marrakech.

This contract follows on from the feasibility study for the Casablanca – Marrakech high-speed line which SYSTRA carried out in 2006 as part of the Moroccan rail network plan.

The project provides for the construction of a 170 km electrified double track between Settat and Marrakech, bypassing Settat and linking up with the conventional track between Settat and Casablanca (40 km) which is currently being doubled. Designed for speeds of up 350 kph, the high-speed line is initially due to operate at 300 kph. Two new stations could also be built : Settat-TGV and Benguerir-TGV. The line will be fully dedicated to passenger traffic, with freight trains running on the conventional track, thus alleviating the over-stretched Casablanca-Marrakech line.

The project, which is due to last 18 months, will enable preparation of tender documents for the construction of the first section of the high-speed line in 2007. A multi-disciplinary team of ten or more highly-skilled engineers will be employed on the project.

The line will be the first high-speed line both in Morocco and on the Africa continent. This will be a major technological leap bringing Marrakech to within 1hr and 16 minutes of Casablanca by 2012, compared to the current 3 hrs and 24 minutes.