Morocco Showcases Railway Development Aspirations at InnoTrans 2026
The National Office of Railways (ONCF) is actively participating in the 15th edition of InnoTrans, the international trade fair dedicated to transportation technologies, which commenced today in Berlin. This participation features a stand that showcases major projects aimed at advancing Morocco's railway network and the kingdom's aspirations within the railway industry. According to Mohamed Samouni, Deputy General Director of ONCF, this involvement occurs against the backdrop of a significant railway development program in Morocco, which represents investments exceeding $10 billion by the year 2030.
This comprehensive program notably includes plans to extend the high-speed train line from Kenitra to Marrakech, which will facilitate the expansion of the high-speed rail corridor from the northern part of the kingdom to the Red City. Additionally, it aims to enhance new regional rail services and strengthen existing infrastructure. Samouni emphasized that ONCF’s participation in InnoTrans also seeks to keep pace with the latest technological advancements in the global railway industry and to strengthen exchanges with leading manufacturers and suppliers in this sector.
The Moroccan delegation comprises approximately 35 professionals from the railway industry, who are expected to hold a series of meetings over the four days of the exhibition with key players in the international railway sector, notably including Alstom, the Spanish manufacturer CAF, and the South Korean company Hyundai Rotem. These three manufacturers have been selected as part of ONCF's program to acquire 168 new trains, which includes 18 high-speed trains assigned to Alstom, 40 intercity trains to CAF, and 110 regional fast trains to Hyundai Rotem.
Samouni noted that this initiative, alongside the acquisition of new trains, aims to encourage the development of a national railway industrial system, particularly through local manufacturing of a portion of the trains and gradually increasing the rate of industrial integration within Morocco. During InnoTrans, several memorandums of understanding are also expected to be signed, particularly between the Moroccan Railway Industry Group and its European counterpart, with the goal of enhancing exchanges between Moroccan railway companies and their European partners.
Today, the Moroccan stand was visited by Ulrich Lange, Parliamentary Secretary at the Federal Minister of Transport of Germany, who took the opportunity to learn about the key railway projects launched by the kingdom and the prospects for the development of this sector. Meanwhile, Morocco's ambassador to Berlin, Zohour Alaoui, praised the rich and deep ties between Morocco and Germany, particularly highlighting the existing cooperation potential between the two countries in the railway sector. She emphasized the progress Morocco has made in railway manufacturing, underscoring the importance of participating in InnoTrans as a platform for interaction among professionals, businesses, and institutions active in the transportation sector, especially railways.
Alaoui urged stakeholders in the railway sector in both Morocco and Germany to continue strengthening their relationships to fully benefit from the excellence and positive dynamics characterizing Moroccan-German relations. Additionally, she pointed out that the Moroccan-German Joint Committee on Transport is a tangible example of the dynamic cooperative relations between the two nations.
This year, InnoTrans 2026, which is held biannually in Berlin, has attracted a record number of exhibitors, reaching 3,170 participants from 59 countries, representing an increase of nearly 200 companies compared to the previous edition in 2024. The exhibition, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, occupies 42 halls as well as outdoor and railway spaces at the Berlin expo area, covering an area of 200,000 square meters. It features approximately 180 global innovations debuting for the first time and showcases 113 vehicles from 17 countries along a rail track stretching about 3,500 meters.
As reported by maroc.ma.
