With the Tangier - Kenitra line, the Office National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF) has demonstrated its ambition, building the first HSR on the African continent.
Client
Office National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF)
Timeline
2010 - 2018
Benefit
- Travel time cut from 2 hrs to 45 mins
- Benefits for business and tourism
- Connecting communities
Outcomes
- Phase 1 of large HSR network
- 2,300 local jobs created
- Upskilling local engineers
Introducing ONCF.
Community impact.
45 mintravel time
Making commuting between cities possible.
2,300 permanent rail jobs
Skilled, well-paid work for local people.
1,000,000's of people
Millions will benefit directly and indirectly.
The challenge.
Building in an unpredictable natural environment.
Building the first high-speed rail line on the African continent required great innovation and ingenuity amidst a highly complex natural environment.
Our engineers had to deal with various natural constraints, including:
- Marshy areas – common in the area
- Violent winds that can exceed 100 km per hour
- Large compressible zones with soft soils of depths of 40 metres
- Numerous river crossings and hilly terrain
- Earthquake-prone areas and seismic activity
To overcome these challenges, we had to move an extraordinary 23 million m3 of excavated earth, plus 15 million m3 of backfill. The project also required massive earthwork structures, including 70m cuttings and 35m embankments. We also needed to consider the constraints specific to HSR, which impose stringent criteria for ground settling.
Imagine.
Combining experience with technical innovation.
To address the particular challenges of this project, we drew on our long experience of constructing HSR lines in France while innovating with our local partners at the ONCF.
Our geotechnical experts first ran a reconnaissance investigation, comprising more than 1,500 boreholes. They then designed the foundations of around 150 engineering structures of all types. They also optimised the movement of earth, defined the materials strategy and supervised the final geotechnical designs for safety.
The poor soil characteristics of certain valleys prevented us from installing conventional embankments, which would have collapsed under their own weight. To overcome this, we constructed viaducts with large foundations solidly anchored in the ground – 20 to 70m deep – through layers of clay, mud and liquefiable sand.
As the new line travels through a region of significant seismic risk, we designed viaducts and other structures so that they were sufficiently rigid to support high-speed trains while being flexible enough to dissipate seismic shocks. We recommended the use of special seismic devices for the most vulnerable engineering structures. These included prestressed damping springs and special anti-lift supports.
Create.
EPC management of a major civil engineering project.
We were responsible for Engineering, Project and Construction (EPC) management of the entire Tangier - Kenitra HSR line.
Having designed and planned the route to ensure that it was geotechnically safe over highly challenging topography, we were responsible for the management of this highly complex project. We optimised excavating and moving tens of millions of cubic metres of earth, cuttings and embankments. Our teams also managed the building of four new viaducts – some of the longest in Africa.
We also oversaw other features of the HSR, including the installation of overhead power lines, the track itself and a construction depot for the entire route.
Upskilling local engineers
One of the most important outcomes of the project has been enabling Morocco and the ONCF to make a major leap forward in railway engineering. Our experienced designers and project managers worked closely with local engineers at the ONCF and other organisations to transfer our knowledge of building high-speed rail. This work has helped create a highly skilled workforce that will be a valuable asset in the subsequent phases of the HSR network project.
Achieve.
Connecting people, sharing knowledge and boosting the economy.
This HSR line is the first phase of a major investment in high-speed rail networks across Morocco.
Working closely with the country's rail provider, we helped to achieve major objectives. This included multiple innovations and creative solutions to overcome the challenges of the terrain.
Now the Tangier - Kenitra line is operational, two of the country's largest population centres are connected like never before. The 45-minute journey means daily commuting is now possible, along with business meetings and leisure tourism, a significant boost to the local economy and national prestige.
