Rabat – Plans for the high-speed rail connection between Morocco and Spain through the Strait of Gibraltar have taken a significant turn, with new plans that would connect Spain’s capital straight to Casablanca, Morocco’s financial capital.
Spanish media reports suggest that instead of linking traditional hubs, the revised plan aims to connect the Spanish 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 Spanish Society for Fixed Communication Studies across the Strait of Gibraltar (Secegsa), operating under the Ministry of Transport, has been tasked with spearheading the venture.
Recent studies by Secegsa have reaffirmed the project’s feasibility and projected a timeline of five years.
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.
After traveling through the newly constructed Strait of Gibraltar tunnel, the train will make a stop in Tangier before reaching its final destination Casablanca.
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 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.
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