By train from Madrid to Casablanca before 2030?

The question is whether the planned railway tunnel under the Strait of Gibraltar will actually be in place before the 2030 World Cup. In any case, the authorities of Morocco and Spain, the two countries that will be connected by the undersea tunnel, are showing their determination to to realize this project.

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According to the Moroccan press, the construction of the tunnel would take five years and could therefore be completed in time for the 2030 World Cup. In reality, however, the start of the active phase of this project is still far away, according to reports. Infobae. No concrete action has been taken since March this year, when Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente spoke to his Moroccan counterpart in Rabat about the subject. The two sides have agreed to hold a meeting of the Spanish-Moroccan Joint Commission soon to make final decisions on this project. The last meeting of this committee took place in April 2023 by video conference.

Also read: This will cost the tunnel between Morocco and Spain

The project involves the construction of two single-track railway tunnels with a circular cross-section of 7.90 meters in internal diameter, separated by a service and safety gallery of 6 meters in diameter and cross connections of 6 meters in diameter every 340 meters. The total length of the tunnel will be 38.5 kilometers, of which 27.7 kilometers are underwater. The tunnel will boost trade relations between Spain and Morocco and between Europe and Africa.