This week ,while still in Fès, King Mohammed VI launched the first of the fabulous new double-decker trains that are to be used on the Moroccan rail network.
Twenty-four double-deckers were purchased for a price rumoured to be around 233 million USD. Having had an opportunity to inspect one of the trains a few months ago, we can report that they will be a vast improvement.
The King also launched other projects, including the building of new 7 million dollar train station for Fès and double tracks between Fès and Meknès. The work on these tracks has been going on for some time and when completed should get rid of lengthy stops on this section of the train journey between Fès and Casa. The construction works on the new Fès station are expected to last for 18 months
A total of USD 1.8Bn was earmarked by the Office National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF) to these major projects that will be carried out over 2005-2009. This ambitious investment program aims at increasing the efficiency of railroad services and boosting social and economic conditions.
Later on, King Mohammed launched the second phase of liquid sanitation network upgrading, worth USD 2.3Mn, and was briefed about the progress of a USD 81.7Mn water purification station which will be operational by the end of 2009 and will contribute to enhance river water quality and to strengthen the current purification stations network in Fes.
Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
1 comment:
I hope they made the stairways a little safer on the new trains - you know how people push and shove when the car is crowded, and it would be much worse to tumble from the 2nd level of a double-decker!
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