Strait of Gibraltar Rail Tunnel

planned

Spain and Morocco are advancing plans to build a submarine rail tunnel beneath the Strait of Gibraltar, creating a fixed link between Europe and Africa. The project involves constructing a roughly 65-kilometre infrastructure, including 38.5 kilometres of tunnel with 27.7 kilometres underwater. The tunnel will have two single-track railway tubes connected by a central service gallery, with safety features such as cross-passages and a secure parking zone. A feasibility study has confirmed the technical possibility of excavation, though it presents significant logistical and financial challenges. The Spanish side alone is estimated to cost over €8.5 billion, with projected completion between 2035 and 2040. The project includes joint seismic and geodynamic studies, marine research campaigns, and environmental considerations due to the sensitive marine ecosystem in the strait.