Morocco inaugurates Africa's first high-speed line

摘要

KING Mohammed VI of Morocco and French president Mr Emmanuel Macron attended a ceremony in Tangiers on November 15 to inaugurate Africa's first high-speed line. Construction of the 183km Tangiers - Kenitra line was officially launched in September 2011 and was originally due for completion in December 2015, but the project suffered a number of setbacks including land acquisition delays and subsidence. Dynamic testing began in February 2017 and an African rail speed record of 357km/h was set on May 4 this year. The total cost of the project was around €1.8bn. The Moroccan government provided €500m from the state budget and the Hassan II Fund for Economic and Social Development. The French government contributed €625m in the form of a concessional loan and a €75m grant, with the French Development Agency (AFD) providing a further €220m.