Morocco committed to high-speed rail

Abdel Jabbar al-Kastalani, a senior official in Morocco’s ruling Justice and Development Party (JDP) has announced its commitment to developing a high-speed train (TGV) network in the country, following a partnership with French company, Alstom. Speaking exclusively to Arabstoday, Kastalani claimed the current government was "fusing together the two ideas of going forward with the TGV project and looking after marginalised areas." Kastalani's remarks come after a meeting with French ambassador to Rabat, Charles Fries, and leaders of Moroccan political parties, regarding TGV. JDP chief Abdallah Bouano has meanwhile renounced his former opposition to the project, claiming the party had opposed high-speed rail because it diverted attention away from “poor, marginalised areas with inadequate infrastructure.” TGV looks set to cost Morocco up to 3 million euros, following a contract with French company Alstom.