Launching New Railway Infrastructure in Tangier
The ambitious railway project connecting Tangier city station to Ibn Battuta Airport, passing through the Grand Stadium, has entered a crucial operational phase. The National Office of Railways (ONCF) has initiated an international pre-selection process aimed at the construction of the infrastructure and civil engineering for this line. This project represents the first cornerstone of the future regional express train network (RER) for the Tangier region.
Through its high-speed lines project division, ONCF has issued a call for tenders accompanied by a pre-selection phase for the execution of works related to the project. This initiative is divided into three main sections, which consider the nature of the route and the specific characteristics of the areas it will traverse, as well as the technical and engineering challenges associated with integrating a new railway structure into existing transport corridors and rapidly expanding urban and suburban areas.
Future Train Line Details and Its Impact on Tangier
The future railway line will span approximately 22.5 kilometers and will feature electrified double tracks. This infrastructure will create a direct link between the city center of Tangier and Ibn Battuta Airport, passing through various residential and economic hubs as well as significant facilities. The project will sequentially cross the administrative domains of Tangier city, Beni Makada, Alawama, and Ksarina.
The opening of the pre-selection process marks a transition of the project from the study and technical design phase to the actual preparation for civil engineering works. A preliminary study has defined the components of the route, the necessary structures, connection points, and stations that will facilitate service to the different areas the line will pass through.
The new railway line is expected to provide service to several strategically important stations and stops, starting from the Tangier city station, which will serve as the final stop for the regional express train. It will also include intermediate urban stations in Magouga, Alawama, and the two Bahrains, before reaching a station designated for the Grand Stadium service.
The line will continue towards the university faculties' stop and then to the final station linked to the new Ibn Battuta Airport building, thereby enabling direct rail connectivity between the urban center and the airport platform. Additionally, the route will enhance access to important urban facilities, including the wholesale market and the new bus station.
This project aims to facilitate transportation within the Tangier metropolis and improve connectivity between its neighborhoods and major facilities, especially given the urban expansion and the increasing demand for public transport capable of accommodating passenger flows. Moreover, it will bolster access to both the airport and the Grand Stadium through rail transport.
ONCF has divided the civil engineering and infrastructure works into three sections, varying in length and the nature of the structures required. The first section will extend from the Tangier city station towards the 11+500 km point, covering nearly ten kilometers. This portion of the project is technically unique due to its passage through an existing and active railway environment, necessitating the construction of a single-track platform alongside currently utilized railway zones, including the Tangier-Fes line and passenger transport corridors, which requires the alignment of new works with existing train movements and infrastructures.
The second section stretches approximately 7.5 kilometers from the 10+800 km point to the Grand Stadium Ibn Battuta at the 18+300 km point, including the construction of a complete railway platform with double tracks, ensuring a branch towards the stadium area and connecting it with other components of the line.
The third section is considered one of the most complex parts of the project from an engineering perspective, as it will connect the Grand Stadium to Ibn Battuta Airport over a distance of nearly six kilometers, reaching the new airport building at the 24+250 km point. The engineering design for this segment primarily involves constructing a continuous elevated railway structure extending close to six thousand meters, allowing the line to cross existing transport routes and integrate with the expanding semi-urban fabric in the area between the stadium and the airport, while minimizing the impact on traffic flow and existing infrastructures.
The advancement of the international pre-selection process is expected to pave the way for subsequent stages related to selecting qualified contractors for executing the civil engineering and infrastructure works, within a project aimed at establishing the first nucleus of a rapid regional rail transport network linking the key hubs of Tangier, from the city center to the Grand Stadium and the airport area.
As reported by hespress.com.
