Spain has contracted Herrenknecht Iberica to conduct a feasibility study for a groundbreaking undersea railway tunnel linking Spain and Morocco.
The project, aimed at improving transportation efficiency between Europe and North Africa, marks a significant step in the decades-long effort to connect the two continents via the Strait of Gibraltar.
The proposed tunnel, which would stretch 38.5 kilometers, with 28 kilometers running beneath the Strait at depths ranging from 175 to 475 meters below sea level, is designed to streamline both freight and passenger transport.
“The Strait of Gibraltar is a bottleneck for traffic between North Africa and Europe – a tunnel would significantly increase the efficiency of freight and passenger transport,” explained a spokeswoman for Herrenknecht, the German engineering firm tasked with the feasibility study.
The project, managed by the Spanish state-owned company Secegsa, aims to connect Spain’s Cadiz province to Morocco’s port city of Tangiers.
Following the design of the Channel Tunnel, which links the UK and France, the tunnel will feature two parallel single-track tunnels for high-speed passenger and freight trains traveling in opposite directions, along with provisions for vehicles to board the trains.
Recent developments suggest that the project is gaining momentum. In November 2024, the Spanish government allocated €486,420 for the leasing of four submarine seismometers, which will be used to study the seafloor conditions of the Strait of Gibraltar.
The Royal Institute and Naval Observatory in San Fernando, Spain, will oversee the six-month seismotectonic study.
The tunnel has received increasing political backing, especially following the improved relations between Spain and Morocco since 2022.
The project has become a symbol of intercontinental cooperation, with the two countries designating it a “strategic project” during a high-level meeting in Rabat in February 2023.
Adding further significance to the tunnel, the 2030 FIFA World Cup – which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco – has brought additional attention to the proposal.
The completion of the tunnel could become a key piece of infrastructure linking the three nations and promoting regional collaboration.
However, technical challenges remain. The Strait of Gibraltar reaches depths of up to 900 meters and is known for strong currents that would complicate construction efforts.
The current tunnel route, “Umbral de Camarinal,” was selected for its more manageable conditions, but significant engineering obstacles remain.
The proposed tunnel design includes three distinct tunnels: two for trains and one dedicated to maintenance and safety services.
Cross-passages would be incorporated every 340 meters, and safety zones would be built every 100 meters to ensure the tunnel meets rigorous safety standards.
Once completed, the tunnel is expected to provide direct rail connections between major European and North African cities, dramatically reducing travel time.
Passengers and freight will be able to traverse the 38.5-kilometer journey in under 30 minutes, making it one of the world’s longest undersea tunnels.
Its completion would surpass the underwater section of the Channel Tunnel, which currently holds the record at 38 kilometers.
With the political and financial support of both Spain and Morocco, coupled with renewed interest due to upcoming international events, the undersea tunnel project is poised to be a transformative development in global transportation. If successful, it will mark a historic moment in the effort to bridge Europe and Africa.