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15-billion-euro railway project between Spain and Morocco: a tunnel under the Strait of Gibraltar to unite Europe and Africa, inaugurating a new era of trade and passenger mobility
The announcement resonates as a historic promise at the end of 2025: the old dream of connecting Africa and Europe by land has never been so tangible. With an estimated budget of 15 billion euros, Morocco and Spain are preparing to redraw the global logistics map. This colossal project, which goes beyond mere transport infrastructure, positions itself as the lever of a transcontinental economy in full mutation, promising to radically transform exchanges between Rabat and Madrid.
A technical feat under the Strait of Gibraltar
The engineering challenge matches the diplomatic ambitions. Forget about maritime crossings dependent on the weather: the goal is now to run trains under the sea. Geological studies, updated thanks to the drilling technologies of 2025, have confirmed the feasibility of this bold railway project. Unlike the Channel Tunnel, the geology of the strait requires digging at a record depth of 475 meters below sea level.
The chosen route does not connect the geographically closest points, but the most geologically stable ones. The tunnel will stretch over 42 kilometers, including 28 kilometers submerged, linking Punta Paloma in Spain to Cap Malabata, near Tangier. This configuration requires cutting-edge expertise to guarantee the safety and durability of the structure in the face of extreme underwater pressures.
An accelerator for international trade and logistics
The economic impact of this junction will be immediate as soon as it is commissioned, planned for 2040. Currently, freight mainly transits by roll-on/roll-off ships, a method that shows its limits in terms of time and carbon footprint. The underwater tunnel will streamline the passage of goods, drastically reducing delivery times. For Moroccan exporters, particularly in agri-food and textiles, it guarantees reaching European markets with increased freshness and responsiveness.
This Spain-Morocco connection does not just facilitate bilateral exchanges; it positions the Kingdom as the true logistical hub of Africa. Investors are closely monitoring this development. Moreover, the momentum is such that there is renewed interest in related infrastructures, just as some seek to diversify their portfolio by investing in European agriculture, capital now turning massively towards the strait.
Passenger mobility revolution and HR opportunities
Beyond containers, it is human flows that will be transformed. Imagine connecting Casablanca to Madrid in a few hours, with a strait crossing completed in only 30 minutes. This new passenger mobility will disrupt the tourism sector, encouraging short stays and business tourism between the two continents. Easy access will boost cultural and academic exchanges, creating an interconnected living and employment area.
For the Moroccan job market, the fallout promises to be significant. The construction phase, scheduled to start around 2030, will require a large skilled workforce. We are already witnessing a pre-mobilization of talents. National organizations are anticipating these needs, as evidenced by recent initiatives to recruit specialized technical profiles in railways, essential to operate these future high-tech infrastructures.
Key benefits for the local economy 🇲🇦
- 🚀 Significant time savings: Reduction of the cross-border journey to half an hour.
- 💼 Job creation: Thousands of direct positions in construction, engineering, and maintenance.
- 🌍 Regional integration: Strengthening Morocco’s role as the gateway to Europe-Africa.
- 📈 Tourism attractiveness: Significant projected increase in European visitors by rail.
This recruitment and training dynamic is crucial. It must allow Morocco to have sovereign skills to manage this complex transport infrastructure without relying exclusively on foreign expertise in the long term.
Financing and schedule: a shared strategic investment
The 15 billion euros bill reflects the complexity of the project. The financial setup relies on close collaboration between Rabat and Madrid, supported by European and international funds. Spain is expected to bear a significant share of the financing, but Morocco’s commitment is total, seeing in this project a vector of economic sovereignty.
The steps are now clearly marked. After approval of the latest technical studies, detailed design will be finalized by 2027. It is a race against time to structure what will become the jugular artery of international trade in the Western Mediterranean. The success of this project will also depend on the ability of the two kingdoms to maintain political and economic stability favorable to long-term investments.
Comparative technical sheet of the project
| Characteristic 🏗️ | Gibraltar Project Data | Comparison / Context |
|---|---|---|
| Total length | 42 km (including 28 km under the sea) | Slightly shorter than the Channel Tunnel (50 km) |
| Maximum depth | 475 meters | Much deeper than the English Channel (average 75 m) |
| Estimated cost | 15 Billion Euros | Joint Morocco-Spain investment |
| Commissioning horizon | 2040 | Start of preparatory works around 2030 |
| Traffic type | Mixed (Passengers + Freight) | High-speed trains and freight shuttles |
While governments refine the details, observers agree that this unprecedented railway junction will mark the 21st century. It symbolizes the will to overcome natural borders to build a common future. It is essential to closely follow the evolution of technical reports that will confirm the final feasibility of each section, step by step.
The wait until the inauguration will be long, but structural transformations are already underway. For Moroccan companies, it is the signal that they must prepare for a step change, where the European market will be only a few kilometers of rail away, without any break of load.
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According to the current schedule, preparatory work should begin around 2030, after the completion of the detailed design studies planned for 2027.
What will be the travel time between Spain and Morocco via the tunnel?
The tunnel will allow trains to connect the two shores in about 30 minutes, considerably reducing travel time compared to current ferries.
Who is financing this 15 billion euro project?
Financing is shared between Spain and Morocco, with likely support from the European Union and international financial institutions, given the strategic stake for the two continents.
Will the tunnel be open to cars?
The project is designed as a railway tunnel. As with the Channel Tunnel, vehicles will be transported on specialized railway shuttles, in addition to conventional passenger and freight trains.
