A rail tunnel across the Gibraltar strait, connecting Spain and Morocco, would be an extremely complex endeavour. That is the conclusion of a feasibility study commissioned by the Spanish government, according to local media, but it is also technically possible. A final decision will reportedly be made in 2027.
The Spanish government had earlier commissioned German tunnelling company Herrenknecht to do a feasibility study into the rail tunnel. While acknowledging that it would be a complex project, Herrenknecht also says that we currently have the technology to build it.
Spain has had the study at its disposal since June, according to Spanish publication Vozpópuli, and has begun to “internally implement it in various ways”. A joint decision by Spain and Morocco on an “exploratory tunnel” will reportedly be made in 2027.
Plan details
A provisional timeline on the construction of the tunnel is said to already exist. The exploratory tunnel would take between six and nine years to complete, with a length of 65 kilometres. It should link up with the Sevilla-Cádiz railway and feature a terminal close to Vejer de la Frontera.
The expected price tag was determined to be 8.5 billion euros for just the Spanish part of the tunnel. Significant milestones are expected between 2035 and 2040, writes Vozpópuli.
Clearly, a rail tunnel between Spain and Morocco would be a costly and long-term undertaking. A cautious approach is appropriate.
At the same time, a rail connection between Morocco and the European mainland could provide opportunities for the rail freight industry. As more and more production facilities are being relocated to North Africa, with Morocco as a focal point, the need for transportation also grows. A rail tunnel could streamline future Africa-Europe logistics.