New developments for the Morocco - Spain tunnel
The Spanish government has just released an additional 1.73 million euros to accelerate the studies for the railway tunnel connecting Spain to Morocco. This funding marks a decisive step towards the realization of this historic infrastructure under the Strait of Gibraltar.
According to the information revealed by Vozpopuli, this transfer allocated for the 2026 fiscal year will support the technical activity of Secegsa. This public entity, attached to the Ministry of Transport, is responsible for coordinating the complex research of this transcontinental project.
The financial effort of the State in favor of this company now exceeds 9.61 million euros since 2022. A global envelope that contrasts sharply with the 50,000 euros of annual aid paid before the relaunch of the Spanish-Moroccan bilateral relations in 2023.
This historic project plans the integration of high-speed lines capable of directly connecting North Africa to several countries of the European Union. This continental scope would make the infrastructure eligible for direct funding from Brussels. A transition to the operational phase of this Morocco - Spain tunnel.
The engineering company Ineco has been tasked with updating the preliminary project by June 2026 using European funds. This order officially initiates the "transition from conceptual studies to an unprecedented pre-operational phase", the objective of which is to precisely define the costs, timelines and construction methodology.
The technical teams are focusing on the design of an experimental reconnaissance gallery, an essential step to verify the nature of the terrain before any massive excavation. The call for tenders for the basic project of this first installation could be launched as early as 2027.
The study of the subsoil represents a major challenge due to active faults and local seismic episodes, requiring very close scientific cooperation between the two countries. Preliminary assessments estimate that it will take about a decade of work and nearly 8.5 billion euros of investment on the Spanish side to complete the project.
