A TUNNEL connecting Europe and Africa might be one step nearer after a research commissioned by the Spanish authorities concluded that an underground hall under the Strait of Gibraltar could be ‘technically possible’.
Earlier this 12 months, German underground boring specialists Herrenknecht AG have been awarded a €300,000 contract to find out whether or not the extremely bold plan to construct a everlasting rail connection between Spain and Morocco was lifelike or merely a pipe dream.
After over 9 months of deliberation, they are saying present engineering know-how means it’s doable, offering a great addition to a venture that has been mooted for many years.
The research even coated the Camarinal Sill, an especially complicated shallow seafloor go below the Strait of Gibraltar that can pose a substantial problem for engineers.
If it goes forward, the underground hall may sit as much as 465 metres under the ocean mattress between Tarifa in Spain and Tangier on Morocco’s northern coast – stretching round 65 kilometres in distance, 40km of which can lie in Spanish territory.
The line would hyperlink Morocco’s high-speed rail community to Spain’s personal by way of a brand new connection to the Sevilla-Cadiz line, facilitating the site visitors of each passengers and freight, and presumably power and fibre-optic infrastructure.
But the venture will come at an unlimited value, even when the European Union stumps up among the money by means of its €750 billion NextGeneration scheme.
Based on present designs, the Spanish facet alone is anticipated to rack up a invoice of round €8-9 billion, which means the overall venture would seemingly exceed €10 billion as soon as each international locations’ infrastructure is included.
No date has been set for building, though engineers have already set out a tough timetable.
The first part will include constructing an exploratory hall that can assist to determine whether or not a full passenger and freight tunnel could be safely constructed.
Spain and Morocco have reportedly dedicated to creating a last resolution in 2027 concerning the tender for the check tunnel – though consultants warn that might nonetheless take as much as a decade to finish.
The last tunnel will comply with a twin-tube strategy.
The thought of a set hyperlink below the world’s second busiest transport channel has existed for the reason that nineteenth century, however fashionable planning started in 1979 when Spain and Morocco signed a cooperation settlement to discover a everlasting crossing.
The two sides signed a joint three-year work plan in 2023, which aimed to replace earlier feasibility research, conduct additional mapping of the seabed and monitor seismic exercise.
Spain’s transport ministry has already requested public consulting agency Ineco to determine a sustainable profitability mannequin for the tunnel.
The research is exploring concessions much like the Eurotunnel, in addition to extra income sources comparable to railway charges and fibre optic set up.
Click right here to learn extra Spain News from The Olive Press.
