The rail tunnel between Spain and Morocco will not be completed in time for the 2030 World Cup, according to the latest feasibility study by German company Herrenknecht, which nevertheless confirms that the project is technically feasible in the longer term.
The project, analyzed at the request of the Spanish Society for Studies on Fixed Communication across the Strait of Gibraltar (Secegsa), could become operational within a realistic timeframe between 2035 and 2040.
The study, awarded for 296,400 EUR, confirms the possibility of building a highly complex underwater railway infrastructure, although experts point out that the project would be one of the most ambitious engineering works in the world.
Major geological challenges under the Camarinal threshold
The report analyses in detail the most difficult sections of the route, particularly the area known as the Camarinal threshold, where geological conditions are extremely challenging. This is the most critical section for TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) drilling due to the presence of complex flysch formations and the structural instability of the marine substrate.
Despite these difficulties, Herrenknecht concludes that the project is feasible using currently available engineering means, marking significant progress compared to assessments made several decades ago.
The confirmation of technical viability comes in the context of the relaunch of the project by the Spanish government starting in 2023, after a long period characterized by preliminary studies and bilateral agreements with Morocco, without concrete progress in execution.
Next step: updating the preliminary design by 2026
After completing the feasibility study, Secegsa entrusted the public company Inginería y Economía del Transporte (Ineco) with the task of finalizing the update of the preliminary infrastructure design. The contract, initially launched in 2021, has already gone through several stages, and the final documentation must be submitted by August 2026 at the latest.
This update, known as APP07, will be the first complete version of the tunnel project since the one drawn up in 2007. Ineco’s mandate includes the preparation of key studies, such as the initial design of the reconnaissance tunnel, the review of existing analyses, and the updating of data on the route, geology, geotechnics, safety, and related terminals and infrastructure.
Technical characteristics of the tunnel
According to the current concept, the tunnel would have a total length of approximately 65 kilometers, of which about 40 kilometers would be on Spanish territory.
The Spanish terminal is planned for the Vejer de la Frontera area, where the infrastructure would connect to Spain’s national rail network via the Cádiz–Seville line, through a double track, as well as a single track connection to Algeciras.
The project also includes road links to the N-340 national road and the A-48 motorway, to integrate rail transport with the regional mobility network.
The tunnel itself would consist of two separate tubes, each with a single track, intended for both passenger and freight transport, complemented by a service and safety gallery.
The maximum depth would reach 475 meters, and the distance between Spain and Morocco, approximately 14 kilometers in a straight line, could be covered in about 30 minutes.
Exploratory tunnel before 2027
The Herrenknecht study is part of the joint strategy of Secegsa and its Moroccan counterpart, Société Nationale d’Études du Détroit (SNED), which aims to put out to tender a first exploratory tunnel before 2027. This stage is considered essential for confirming the geological conditions and validating the construction solutions.
To this end, project experts have conducted fact-finding visits to comparable infrastructure projects, such as the Rogfast tunnel in Norway, which is currently under construction and has similar characteristics in terms of length and depth.
At the same time, seismicity studies and seabed analyses are being carried out, including with the support of the United States Geological Survey.
Costs, financing, and estimated timetable
The estimated cost of the project exceeds EUR 8.5 billion, which refers exclusively to the Spanish side and includes all phases of execution, installations, and a reserve for risks and contingencies.
The Spanish authorities are considering several financing options, including European funds, but also additional sources of revenue, such as railway usage fees, logistics services, electrical interconnections, and the installation of fiber optics.
The first physical works could symbolically coincide with the 2030 World Cup, organized by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, but realistic deadlines for completing the major stages are between 2035 and 2040.
The 2030 World Cup and the project’s initial ambitions
In its earlier stages, the Spain-Morocco rail tunnel project was also associated with infrastructure ambitions related to the organization of the 2030 World Cup, a competition to be hosted by Spain, Morocco, and Portugal.
According to the Spanish press, the authorities in Madrid initially considered the option of building a bridge over the Strait of Gibraltar, but this was later abandoned in favor of underwater tunnels, which were considered more advantageous in terms of cost, environmental impact, and maritime navigation.
FIFA’s announcement of the 2030 World Cup host temporarily brought the project back into the public eye, but the current schedule resulting from feasibility studies indicates that the tunnel cannot be completed by the date of the competition, remaining a long-term strategic investment.
A project with strategic impact for Europe and Africa
The initiative aims to connect Madrid to Rabat via a direct rail link, integrated into the European network and designed to enhance the mobility of people and goods between Europe and Africa.
According to experts from the College of Civil Engineers of Madrid, the project is “unique, capable of transforming the history of mobility between Europe and Africa and generating unprecedented economic and social impact in the region.”
The relaunch of the project after 2023 has been supported by an increase in public and European funding, after decades of studies being carried out with limited resources.
The public company responsible for developing the tunnel (SECEGSA) is headed by General José Luis Goberna Caride and operates under the supervision of the Spanish Ministry of Transport.
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