The National Railway Office (ONCF) is set to launch a major civil engineering program focused on the construction and extension of underpasses and station access points. Managed by the ONCF’s High-Speed Rail Projects Division, the project covers around 15 stations along the Kenitra–Marrakech line. To carry out the works, the railway operator is seeking external contractors specializing in civil engineering structures.
The project is divided into two geographical sections. The first, stretching from Mohammedia to Nouaceur, covers 10 stations: Mohammedia Facultés, Mohammedia Ville, Sidi Bernoussi, Aïn Sebaâ, Hay Mohammadi, Mers Sultan, Zenata Industrielle, Sidi Maârouf, Bouskoura, and Nouaceur. The second, centered around Marrakech, includes five stations: Benguerir, Ville Verte RER, Sidi Bouatman, Gare Stade Marrakech, and Sidi Ghanem.
The project’s estimated cost reflects the scale of the undertaking: nearly 50.2 million dirhams for the first lot and nearly 30 million dirhams for the second, bringing the total budget to almost 80 million dirhams. According to technical documents reviewed by TelQuel, the ONCF is seeking contractors capable of building these reinforced concrete structures in close proximity to active railway tracks.
Working without stopping trains
The greatest challenge lies in maintaining uninterrupted rail operations throughout construction. Most of the underpasses will be built in two phases specifically designed to keep train services running. No prolonged disruption to traffic is planned. “Trains will have to continue running while crews excavate beneath the platforms ” the ONCF emphasizes.
The first phase involves casting a reinforced concrete box culvert beneath the alignment of the future tracks before they are installed, leaving a joint on the platform side. In the second phase, temporary bridges will be installed over the existing tracks, allowing the underpass to be extended and connected to the structure built during the first phase, all without interrupting rail traffic.
The operation presents significant engineering challenges. Between the two phases, the partially completed structure must remain watertight and protected for several months while trains continue to operate overhead. The works will require an extensive range of heavy equipment, including a 200-ton mobile crane to install the temporary bridges, mini excavators capable of operating in the confined spaces around the platforms, as well as sheet piles and soil-nailed retaining walls to stabilize the excavation.
Stairways and elevators
Beyond the engineering challenge, the new underpasses are designed to transform passenger circulation within the affected stations. Each structure will include stairways and elevator shafts, allowing passengers to move between platforms. The project specifies that all of these structures will be built in reinforced concrete.
The design of the access points has also been adapted to the phased construction schedule. Elevator shafts must not obstruct subsequent phases of the works, while their foundations must avoid interfering with tracks already in service. These constraints make careful coordination essential throughout the project.
The project falls under the ONCF’s High-Speed Rail Projects Division, the unit responsible for developing Morocco’s high-speed rail infrastructure. All 15 stations are located along the Kenitra–Marrakech corridor, where the Office is currently concentrating its investment efforts.
Contractor Requirements
The ONCF has set strict qualification requirements for prospective contractors. Companies must demonstrate proven expertise in the construction of civil engineering structures, particularly standard reinforced concrete works, and meet the minimum classification requirements established by the Office. An accredited engineering consultancy will be responsible for preparing the detailed designs.
Construction will be carried out station by station according to an overall schedule established by the ONCF, with partial acceptance inspections conducted as work progresses. A one-year warranty period will begin upon provisional acceptance, during which contractors will remain responsible for the structural integrity of the completed works.
As previously reported by TelQuel, the ONCF has accelerated efforts to modernize its rail network in recent months, including the acquisition of second-hand Intercity trains from Italy’s Trenitalia. The construction of these station underpasses forms part of the same modernization drive, this time focusing on railway infrastructure.
Written in French by Younes Souary, edited in English by Amina Kadiri
