First-Ever Underwater Rail Tunnel to Connect Europe and Africa by 2030

In a few years, passengers might board a high-speed train in Madrid and arrive in Casablanca, Morocco, in just five and a half hours, traversing a newly constructed underwater tunnel beneath the Strait of Gibraltar. This project was initially proposed in 1979 by Spain and Morocco, but after preliminary feasibility studies in 1981, it stalled.

Spain and Morocco are revisiting this monumental project, especially with the 2030 FIFA World Cup on the horizon. The centennial event will be uniquely hosted by three countries spanning two continents: Spain, Morocco, and Portugal. For football fans, the prospect of traveling swiftly between match locations on a state-of-the-art rail system is not just a convenience but a thrilling possibility.

The Moroccan National Company for Strait Studies (SNED) has recently revived interest in the Euro Africa Gibraltar Strait Fixed Link, a project aimed at connecting the two continents via an underwater rail tunnel. In parallel, Spain has also initiated similar studies in 2023 under the direction of the Spanish Society for Fixed Communication Studies across the Strait of Gibraltar (SECEGSA).

Starting from Madrid, the proposed route would include a stop in Algeciras, Spain, before entering the underwater tunnel beneath the Strait of Gibraltar. The tunnel would extend from Punta Paloma in Spain to Punta Malabata in Morocco, with the next stop in Tangier, Morocco, before reaching the final destination, Casablanca. This journey would cover about 26 miles, with 17 miles of track running through the undersea tunnel, which would be situated approximately 1,550 feet below sea level at its deepest point.

If completed, this would be the first-ever rail connection between Europe and Africa, and beyond its significance for the World Cup, it would create a vital link between the rail networks of both continents, facilitating travel and commerce.