Bombardier Transportation has reached a significant milestone in its rail modernisation projects with the Moroccan State Railway, ONCF. After almost four months of successful operation, the first 30 km stretch of the Casablanca to Tanger-Med Line upgrade is benefitting from the state-of-the-art BOMBARDIER INTERFLO 250 advanced rail control solution.
Upgrading the entire 360 km Casablanca to Tangier-Med line forms part of ONCF’s programme to increase capacity on Morocco’s most important passenger and freight rail corridor as part of the national agenda to promote infrastructure development and economic growth.
To reduce travel times and increase capacity, Bombardier is currently upgrading the line in two parts with its globally-proven mainline solution. The sections comprise the Casablanca to Kénitra section (130 km) and the Sidi Yahya to Tangier-Med (230 km) stretches of the line. Bombardier will also provide maintenance through its BOMBARDIER OPTIFLO rail control services solution. The project is being delivered by Bombardier’s Spanish Centre of Excellence and Morocco-based project management team.
Bombardier Transportation has had a local presence in Casablanca since 2011 following the award of a contract to rehaul 14 ONCF electric trains operating on the Casablanca-Rabat line and then the signalling contract to equip the ONCF line between Casablanca-Kenitra and Sidi Yahya-Tanger with ERTMS Level 1. Bombardier Aerospace has operated a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the Nouaceur Midparc free zone near Casablanca since 2014, which currently employs 300 people and produces aircraft components and sub-assemblies for Bombardier business and commercial aircraft.