The project to build an undersea tunnel connecting Europe and Africa has taken a step forward

In the earlier planning stages of the project, it was also linked to infrastructure ambitions related to hosting the 2030 World Cup, which will be jointly organised by Spain, Morocco and Portugal.

What is the development about?

The tunnel connecting Europe and Africa would be built under the Strait of Gibraltar and, based on the current concept, would be approximately 65 kilometres long, according to the international railway magazine.

It would consist of two separate tubes, each with a track, for both passenger and freight transport, with a maximum depth of 475 metres. According to the plans, the section between Spain and Morocco would take approximately 30 minutes by train.

What is its significance?

The railway tunnel under the Strait of Gibraltar would be a historically significant investment in terms of railways and transport policy: roughly on the same scale as the Channel Tunnel between Europe and Great Britain at the time.

Today, between Europe and Africa:

• no direct land connection,
• goods are mainly transported by sea,
• passenger traffic is based on aeroplanes or ferries.

The construction of the tunnel would establish the first continuous rail link between Europe and Africa, opening up a whole new dimension in transport.

What could be the biggest challenge?

The analysis, which cost nearly €300,000, confirmed that the investment is technically feasible, but would be one of the most complex engineering projects in the world.

The report highlights the Kamarinális threshold area, where the geological conditions of the seabed and structural instability pose a serious challenge for tunnel boring machines. However, according to experts, these problems can be managed with today's technological tools, which is a significant improvement compared to assessments from previous decades.