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The ambitious underwater rail tunnel linking Spain and Morocco via the Strait of Gibraltar has been postponed, with completion now expected in 2040, a decade later than originally scheduled. This update follows ongoing technical studies and seismic analyses aimed at assessing the feasibility of this intricate infrastructure project.
The ambitious underwater rail tunnel linking Spain and Morocco via the Strait of Gibraltar has been postponed, with completion now expected in 2040, a decade later than originally scheduled. This update follows ongoing technical studies and seismic analyses aimed at assessing the feasibility of this intricate infrastructure project. The initial plans aimed to complete the tunnel by 2030, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, experts agree this timeline is unrealistic given the project’s complexity and current preliminary stage of studies
Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente has taken steps to revive a long-discussed project that has been in consideration for over 45 years. This initiative aims to build a rail-only tunnel linking Punta Paloma in Cadiz, Spain, to Punta Malabata near Tangier, Morocco. The proposed tunnel will stretch 42 kilometres, with nearly 30 kilometres underwater at depths of up to 475 meters. Initial plans include a single tunnel accommodating both directions, with a second tunnel planned for a later phase to manage traffic separately.
Currently, two important preliminary studies are underway. In October 2024, Herrenknecht Ibérica, a subsidiary of the German company Herrenknecht, was awarded a €296,000 contract to assess the feasibility of drilling through the ‘Camarinal Sill,’ which separates the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. Herrenknecht Ibérica, known for projects like Madrid’s M-30 tunnels and the Bosphorus crossing, will complete this feasibility study by July and is not contracted for construction or technology supply.
A second seismic monitoring study was initially contracted to Tekpam Ingenieria but was put on hold due to security concerns from the Royal Institute and Naval Observatory. It is now set to resume between April and September under naval supervision when conditions are more favourable. The project faces considerable technical challenges, particularly due to its location at the boundary of the Eurasian and African tectonic plates along the Azores-Gibraltar fault line.
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The Spanish Institute of Engineering has identified the complex geology of the strait as a significant hurdle. Financially, the project has seen considerable investment. From 2016 to 2021, SECEGSA (Spanish Society for Fixed Communication Studies across the Strait of Gibraltar) received annual funding of €50,000, amounting to over €2 million. This budget increased to €100,000 in 2022 and €750,000 in 2023, with total investments reportedly exceeding €50 million and the entire project estimated to cost over €15 billion.
The initiative is being collaboratively managed by SECEGSA and its Moroccan counterpart, SNED (National Society for Strait Studies), with both organizations focused on establishing a reliable rail connection for passengers and freight between Europe and North Africa.
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