Morocco-Spain Mega Tunnel inches closer to reality

The dream of a railway tunnel linking Morocco and Spain under the Strait of Gibraltar is edging closer to reality.

Recent positive talks, jointly organizing a FIFA World Cup and flourishing ties between these two neighboring Kingdoms have opened the door to accelerating the project.

The project’s significance takes on even greater weight when you consider that Morocco and Spain, alongside Portugal, will jointly host the upcoming 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Spanish news outlets, in this regard, are hailing this project as potentially one of the greatest civil engineering works in history, poised to bring about significant transformations across various sectors.

It’s projected to facilitate access to logistics platforms and transshipment zones within the transport network, thereby reducing transport expenses, optimizing storage capacities, and enhancing infrastructure efficiency.

Óscar Puente, Spain’s Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, earlier this month, highlighted the  Spanish companies’ keen interest in investing in this project. He also suggested the possibility of Spain contributing to the Moroccan railway network.

In this regard, Puente affirmed that his country seeks to assume a significant role in the project, emphasizing Spain’s prominence in railway affairs. “Our speed is crucial since we’re the world leader in high-speed connectivity per capita and second only to China in total kilometers,” he added.

However, the most contentious unresolved issue, as indicated by the same source, is the exact trajectory of the tunnel. This decision is paramount to moving the project forward.

The narrowest point between Spain and Morocco is almost certainly between the town of La Punta de Oliveros in Tarifa and the Islote Punta Cires in Morocco. However, the depth of the water makes this route not feasible despite being the fastest to build.

An alternative 42-kilometer Gibraltar tunnel route is proposed, stretching from Punta Paloma Beach in Spain to Malabata in Tangier. This includes a 27.7-kilometer underwater section with a maximum depth of 300 meters and an 11-kilometer underground section with a maximum slope of 3%.

This ambitious project is reportedly planned for construction and operation in two phases. The initial phase features a single-tube railway tunnel capable of accommodating both high-speed and freight trains, traveling in both directions in alternating batches of 12 trains.

Phase two comprises two-directional railway tunnels that will come into operation when demand increases.

This transcontinental project is poised to significantly impact trade relations between Europe and Africa, noted the same source.

By promoting the flow of goods, the project is expected to improve business productivity and stimulate both the relocation and creation of new businesses. This economic activity will have a positive effect on both regions, ultimately contributing to a greater balance between them.