Crossing the Strait: Europe and Africa’s Long-Awaited Undersea Rail Tunnel Moves Forward

Crossing the Strait: Europe and Africa's Long-Awaited Undersea Rail Tunnel Moves Forward

More than four decades after engineers first floated the idea of a rail link beneath the Strait of Gibraltar, Morocco and Spain have finally moved the project into high gear. In August 2025 the two governments validated the "Gibraltar rail tunnel," releasing EUR 1.6 million for new feasibility studies and reviving a vision first outlined in 1979. The plan calls for a roughly 42-kilometre tunnel – about 28 km of it under the seabed – that would connect Tarifa in southern Spain to the Tanger-Med port in northern Morocco. At its deepest point the passage could reach 475 metres below sea level, making it one of the most complex undersea rail projects ever attempted.

Four decades of waiting

Although officials have flirted with the idea for years, the latest push has gained momentum thanks to aligned political will on both sides of the Strait. Spain, Portugal and Morocco will co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, and leaders see the tunnel as a symbolic and strategic piece of that partnership. Multiple engineering assessments estimate the price tag at between EUR 6 billion and EUR 15 billion, depending on the tunnel’s final design, the cost of logistics and materials, and the region’s challenging seabed geology. Morocco’s National Company for the Study of the Strait of Gibraltar (SNED) and its Spanish counterpart have reconvened a bi-national commission to oversee updated geological surveys, with a final feasibility report expected by mid-2026 and, if approved, completion around 2040.

A new economic artery

Proponents argue that the tunnel is more than a feat of engineering – it is an economic artery between continents. A dedicated Europe–Africa rail corridor would slash freight times, ease migration logistics, and provide a climate-friendlier alternative to ferries and cargo planes. Tanger-Med, already North Africa’s busiest port, would emerge as a gateway to Europe for goods coming from West and Central Africa. The project is also being framed as a "bridge of intent" reflecting broader efforts to deepen economic and diplomatic integration between the global north and south.

For Europe, the tunnel would form part of a larger Mediterranean infrastructure corridor envisioned by the European Union; for Morocco, it aligns with a national development agenda aimed at modernising logistics and expanding global market access. Spanish policymakers see it as a way to maintain Spain’s relevance in Euro-African affairs even as competition rises from other regions.

Challenges and opportunities

Despite the optimism, significant hurdles remain. Seismic risk in the region, deep seabed geology and spiralling materials costs could push the project toward the upper end of cost estimates. Critics also question the ecological impact of boring a tunnel hundreds of metres beneath the Mediterranean. But supporters argue that the environmental benefits of shifting freight from diesel-powered ships and lorries to electric rail outweigh potential downsides. The final feasibility studies will need to address these technical and ecological questions head-on.

If realised, the Gibraltar tunnel could be transformative for Africa. By providing a direct rail link into the heart of Europe, it would offer African exporters faster access to European markets and reduce their dependence on longer sea routes via the Suez Canal. It could also catalyse investment in rail and logistics infrastructure across North and West Africa, turning Tanger-Med into a true transcontinental hub. For travellers, a train ride under the sea could make weekend trips between Casablanca and Madrid a reality.

A bridge between continents

Ultimately, the undersea tunnel represents more than steel and concrete. It symbolises a shift in how Africa and Europe imagine their relationship. In the decades since the idea first surfaced, both continents have changed dramatically. Africa’s economies have grown more interconnected with one another and the world, while Europe has sought new partners beyond its traditional borders. The Gibraltar tunnel – if it comes to pass – would be a physical manifestation of that new chapter, shrinking geographic distances and creating a shared space for trade, travel and innovation.

As the feasibility studies proceed and political leaders weigh the costs and benefits, one thing is clear: the dream of crossing the Mediterranean by train is closer to reality than ever. Whether the tunnel opens by 2040 or later, its approval marks a significant step toward a future in which Africa and Europe are more closely connected beneath the sea.