The ambitious plan to connect Morocco to Spain could be completed in just five years and could be operational at the start of 2030.
According to reports citing researchers at Secegsa, the Spanish Society for Fixed Communications Studies, recent studies have confirmed the viability of the project and that it could be constructed in five years.
The tunnel would measure 27.7 kilometers under the sea, with an additional 11 kilometers underneath the ground, Spanish media reports indicate.
In addition to two tunnels dedicated to trains, a third tunnel is planned to function as a service tunnel.
Last week, reports indicated that the tunnels would connect Spain’s capital Madrid directly with Morocco’s economic powerhouse in Casablanca.
The proposed travel time for this ambitious project is approximately five and a half hours.
Sources indicate that this shift in strategy comes as Spain, Morocco, and Portugal prepare for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. With construction slated to start next year, anticipation is building for what could become a pivotal infrastructure project in the region.
The high-speed trains are set to transport passengers between four major stations spanning both countries.
Madrid will serve as the primary departure point, followed by a southern Spanish stop in Algeciras.
While there are still undisclosed logistical details, including finalizing designs and securing funding, the success of the project hinges on collaboration between Spain, Morocco, and potential external partners like the European Union.
The project has already attracted the attention of several international multilateral organizations, including the Arab Maghreb Union, the European Commission, the Barcelona Process, and the Union for the Mediterranean among others.