Morocco’s National Railway Office (ONCF), responding to recent allegations of unfairness, issued a statement yesterday stating that the High-Speed Train (HST) Marrakech-Agadir project was awarded to the Chinese firm China Railway Design Corporation (CRDC) through an international open tender for the “preliminary design study” of the high-speed railway not through some nefarious preference.
ONCF reiterated that CRDC’s involvement is strictly confined to the preliminary study of design stage and will not involve the entire construction of the Marrakech-Agadir project. It asserted that the selection of CRDC was the result of a fair procedure involving multiple bids from companies, with the Chinese firm standing out for the competitiveness of its proposal.
ONCF pledged to create a comprehensive blueprint for the high-speed line once studies are done, guaranteeing transparency and fairness in the execution of the project, concluded the statement.
The rail line between Marrakech and Agadir aims to improve transportation between the two tourist destinations, with trains operating at 250 to 320 kilometers per hour and stations in Sidi Zouine, Chichaoua, and Agadir. The 239-kilometer section, covering 1,300 hectares, will require more than a 50 million MAD investment.