The proposed rail connection between Spain and Morocco would include a 38.5km tunnel
The scope covers preliminary design of the exploratory tunnel, comprehensive review and update of previous studies, and validation of route alignment, geology, geotechnical conditions, security systems, terminals, and supporting infrastructure. Special attention will be given to confirming the geological risks in the most challenging sections of the Strait. The study is scheduled for completion by August 2026.
The award follows Herrenknecht's October 2025 drilling feasibility study, which concluded that current tunnelling technology makes the project viable. A final decision on whether to proceed to tender is expected in 2027.
Earlier contracts this year included Ineco's €350,000 financial feasibility study in August and Vodafone’s appointment to provide advanced telecommunications support. In January, Herrenknecht had received a €296,400 contract for initial drilling assessment.
Spain revived the fixed-link project in June 2024 with an allocation of approximately $2.5 million for updated design work. Originally launched in 2003, the initiative was suspended after the 2008 financial crisis and has undergone multiple feasibility reviews over the past two decades.
The current concept comprises a 38.5 km double-track railway with a parallel service tunnel, of which 28 km would lie beneath the Mediterranean Sea at a maximum depth of 475 metres. Each single-track tunnel would have an internal diameter of 7.9 metres, while the service gallery would measure 6 metres.
The project continues to be jointly advanced by Morocco’s National Society for Strait of Gibraltar Studies and Spain's Sociedad Española de Estudios para la Comunicación Fija a Través del Estrecho de Gibraltar. Swiss firm Lombardi Engineering completed preliminary designs in 2008.
