(On the photo: King Felipe VI of Spain (L) and King Mohammed VI of Morocco (R) attend the signing of bilateral agreements at the Agdal Royal Palace on February 13, 2019 in Rabat, Morocco [Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images])
A railway line between Morocco and Spain could be launched soon, Morocco’s Transport State Secretary announced yesterday. Speaking in an interview with Anadolu, Mohamed Najib Boulif said that the continental railway line between Morocco and Spain would be announced soon, explaining: “We have been working for years with Spain for the continental railway line between the two countries and we are now in the process of deepening technical studies.” He added that “there is a reasonable time span for technical studies to be prepared and to give us the possible options for this connectivity”. Boulif went on to say that: “The Moroccan and Spanish companies are working to find the best way for a continental railway line, and the study related to the depth of the sea will propose a number of possible options.”
He explained that: “Swiss experience has shown that some of the proposals, which were not feasible in the last 20 years, are now possible, on the basis that we decide the best possible route for the link, taking into account the costs and risks associated with the sea.” He said “we will try to complete the study in the next one or two years and begin the most important stage, namely the search for funding.” It is not yet clear whether the link will be via a bridge or underwater tunnel, with Boulif saying only that this would be determined by funding and technical capacity.
Boulif explained that the idea for the project has been supported for many years by north African countries, saying: “The Arab Maghreb Union [including Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Mauritania and Libya] has been trying to complete this project since [the union] was founded in 1989.”
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190216-morocco-spain-railway-to-be-launched-soon/