Inaugurated on 15 November 2018, the Kenitra-Tangier line is the first high-speed line in Morocco. Its main objective is to link the biggest town of the country, Casablanca, to Tangier. This is the first stage of a project to create up to 1500 kms of new railway lines in Morocco. ArcelorMittal is proud to contribute to this high-level project with the participation of ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products Rails & Special Sections, who provided rails, and WireSolutions, who provided fences.

Sole rails supplier for the Kenitra-Tangier line

ArcelorMittal is the sole rails supplier for the first phase of this project and provided 46 000 tonnes of rails produced by ArcelorMittal España at the Veriña site. We were able to offer the customer rails that combine excellent reliability, geometrical precision, strict flatness tolerance, and the highest quality on the market. Our 60E1 R260Mn rails measuring 36 metres long have a lower wear than our R260 standard grade. They also fulfil all of the requirements for high-speed railways:

• Safety
• Comfort
• Durability and cost efficiency
• Minimum acoustic impact
• Service
• Environmentally-friendly

Fences from Bissen on the north part of the line

The Moroccan rail operator ONCF*, via the local provider/installer Menasteel Industry, has entrusted the supply of WireSolutions’ high security fencing Atak®, produced in our plant in Bissen, Luxembourg. Our fences were installed along the north part of the line. This represents 50% in terms of volume (of the north part of the line) and 146 kms of fences. This is the first entry into the public market in Morocco for Bissen and a good opportunity to become an important player on the North African market.

Kenitra-Tangier in only 47 minutes

The line between Casablanca and Tangier is the first step in ONCF’s project to create 1500 kms of railways in Morocco. It will significantly reduce travel time from Casablanca to Tangier from 4 hours 45 minutes to around 2 hours. The 200-km track between Kenitra and Tangier is linked to the existent rail line between Kenitra and Casablanca. With trains running at a speed of 320 km/h, it is now possible to travel from Kenitra to Tangier in only 47 minutes.

In the future, the line will be extended to the south through Marrakesh to Agadir, and another line is planned from Rabat through Fez to Oujda.

*ONCF (Office National des Chemins de Fer du Maroc)

The London Underground, nicknamed "the Tube," is a great way to travel and discover London and its hot spots. Londoners and London lovers, you will soon be able to explore parts of the city on ArcelorMittal rails as ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products Rails & Special sections has secured the contract to supply rails for the Northern Line Extension (NLE).

A great addition for the area and for the commuters

The Northern Line Extension (NLE), part of TFL/LUL*, will bring great benefits to the areas of Vauxhall, Nine Elms, and Battersea. Transit time from Nine Elms or Battersea to the West End or the City could be, in some cases, less than 15 minutes and up to 25 000 jobs and 20 000 new homes could be created.

Ferrovial - Laing O`Rourke (FLO) JV are the principal contractor completing the 3.2-km extension that also involves the construction of two new stations at Nine Elms and Battersea. These will be completed in 2020.

Rails from our state-of-the-art mill in Gijón

As part of the tender award, ArcelorMittal is supplying rails manufactured at our state-of-the-art rolling mill in Gijón, in Northern Spain. All will be delivered on a just-in-time basis to construction sites across London on specialist rear steer vehicles as access/egress is limited.

The mill has recently benefited from a 30 million Euro investment with new rolling mills and a mill extension allowing rails to be rolled at 108m.

ArcelorMittal manufactures rails and special sections from mills in Spain, Poland, Luxembourg, and the United States, and is the world's leading steel and mining company. ArcelorMittal is proud to work with FLO JV towards the completion of the track installation in 2019.

*Transport for London/London Underground Limited

ArcelorMittal Europe delivered 60 000 tonnes of rails and 1000 tonnes of sections and flat bars for the 450-km Haramain High Speed Rail project also known as the “Mecca-Medina high speed railway" inaugurated on 25 September 2018.

A 300 km/h alternative

Located in Saudi Arabia, this new rail line connects the cities of Medina and Mecca. It was planned to provide safe and comfortable transport at speeds of 300 km/h, and it will help to relieve traffic congestion on the roads.

ArcelorMittal, a worldwide reference in high speed rail supply

To build the electrified double-track line, ArcelorMittal España supplied 60 000 tonnes of 25-metre-long 60E1 – R260 rails.

ArcelorMittal steel was chosen as we are a worldwide reference in high speed rail supply. We also have five facilities around the world for rail supply, of which four are located in Europe: Rodange (Luxembourg), Dąbrowa Górnicza, Chorzów (Poland), and Gijón (Spain).

A further contribution from Distribution Solutions Iberia

The rails are not the only contribution of ArcelorMittal Europe. Downstream Solutions Iberia provided (via its long-term customer, Dicome) 1000 tonnes of sections and flat bars produced in Olaberria and Bergara to realise the overhead power cable posts between January 2014 and April 2015.

Text: ArcelorMittal Europe
Photos: Saudi Railways Organization

ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products Rails and Special Sections provided 6,500 tonnes of rails for the forthcoming Sydney Metro project. It is Australia’s largest public transport infrastructure project as it will transform Sydney, delivering more trains and faster services for customers across the network.

Sole supplier for the first phase

ArcelorMittal is the sole steel supplier for the first phase of this project and provided 6,500 tonnes of rails produced by ArcelorMittal España, in Gijón. 20-metre long rails were delivered at the Port of Newcastle in March.

ArcelorMittal was chosen for the Sydney Metro project as it is a worldwide reference, able to offer rails that combine excellent reliability and the highest quality, without forgetting other requirements such as safety, durability, cost efficiency, service, and environmental-friendliness.

The first fully-automated metro rail system in Australia

This first phase consists of a new 23-kilometre rail route that calls for six new stations and the possibility of two more in the future. It is on track to open to customers in the first half of 2019 and deliver fast, safe, and frequent service.

The City & Southwest will be the second stage with a new 30-kilometre metro line, scheduled to open in 2024 with the capacity to run a metro train every two minutes each way under the centre of Sydney. It will also be the first fully-automated metro rail system in the country.

Text: ArcelorMittal Europe Communications

Copyrights: © TfNSW (Transport for NSW, Australia)