German railway equipment manufacturer Vossloh and Portuguese company Futrifer have established a joint venture that will provide maintenance services for Morocco’s national rail network and for the urban rail systems in Casablanca and Rabat. From 2027, the new company plans to recruit and train local staff.
The company, Vossloh Futrifer Services Maroc, began operations on 1 July and is headquartered in Casablanca.
The company was established by the French division Vossloh Services France and the Portuguese railway equipment manufacturer Futrifer Indústrias Ferroviárias, in which Vossloh and Diorama are shareholders.
The new company aims to meet the growing demand for maintenance services driven by the rapid development of the Moroccan railway sector.
Rail welding, grinding and milling
The company’s portfolio will include maintenance work on turnouts and track equipment, mobile rail welding – carried out manually or using robots – as well as rail grinding and milling.
Vossloh Futrifer Services Maroc will also be able to carry out other general railway maintenance work.
The services will be provided on the national network operated by ONCF, Morocco’s state-owned railway operator, as well as on the urban networks in Casablanca and Rabat.
Operations will commence with experienced teams from Vossloh Services France and Futrifer. The two companies have been collaborating in France since 2024.
Moroccan staff to be trained from 2027
From 2027, the joint venture intends to recruit and train Moroccan staff to strengthen its local presence and develop long-term railway expertise in the region.
Vossloh is also participating in a broader industry initiative to establish a vocational training centre for the railway sector in Morocco.
“Through the joint venture Vossloh Futrifer Services Maroc, we are strengthening our position in North Africa and supporting sustainable mobility in one of the continent’s most dynamic markets,” said Marcel Taubert, Managing Director of Vossloh Rail Services.
For his part, Joaquim Dias Amaro, Vice-Chairman of Futrifer, stated that the new company will support the Portuguese firm’s internationalisation within the Vossloh Group.
Morocco is planning up to 1,300 km of high-speed lines
The company’s establishment comes against the backdrop of extensive investments being planned by Morocco to develop its rail infrastructure.
The Morocco Rail Plan 2040 programme envisages the construction of up to 1,300 km of high-speed lines, as well as the development of the conventional network and urban rail transport.
Vossloh has been operating in Morocco for several decades. In 2024, the company received a major order to supply rail fastening systems and turnouts for the new high-speed line between Casablanca and Marrakesh.
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