Helsinki to Tallinn Tunnel

The Helsinki to Tallinn Tunnel is a proposed undersea tunnel that would connect the Finnish and Estonian capitals [Mike Collier. " [http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/20162/ Helsinki mayor still believes in Tallinn tunnel] ", "The Baltic Times", April 3 2008. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.] .

The tunnel's length would be between convert|60|km to convert|80|km, depending upon the route, making it the longest undersea tunnel in the world. The project is largely being pushed forward by the Mayors of Tallinn and Helsinki, Edgar Savisaar and Jussi Pajunen respectively. Both cities have promised €100,000 for preparatory studies, though the relevant ministries of each county have refused to grant any funding. An application is now planned to the EU to gain the additional funds needed for a comprehensive survey, estimated to cost between €500,000 to €800,000 [" [http://yle.fi/news/id86525.html Helsinki-Tallinn Rail Tunnel Link?] ", "YLE News", 28 March 2008. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.] .

The initial costs of the tunnel itself varies, from around one billion Euros for a freight-only tunnel, to many billions of Euro if passengers were to travel in it. Though the economic benefits would be significant, both in terms of increased connections and economic integration between the two cities (Copenhagen and Malmö have been offered as examples), but also in a wider context of convenient passenger train connections between Southern Finland and the Baltic States, and a fixed link for freight from across Finland on to the under construction Rail Baltica, thus providing a rail freight connection with the rest of Europe.

tudies

Usko Anttikoski. [http://www.mtry.fi/tiedotteet/Fixed%20transport%20connections%20across%20the%20Baltic%20to%20Sweden%20and%20Estonia%20without%20charts.pdf "Fixed transport connections across the Baltic from Finland to Sweden and Estonia. Preliminary feasibility assessment."] 2007.

[http://www.greaterhelsinkivision.fi/files/GHV_1p_Emerald_7_boards.pdf "Emerald, Vision 2050"] Greater Helsinki Vision 2050– International Ideas Competition. 2007.

Ilkka Vähäaho, Pekka Raudasmaa. [http://www.hel.fi/wps/wcm/connect/525597004a17257184bfec3d8d1d4668/HT-tunnel.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=525597004a17257184bfec3d8d1d4668 "Feasibility Study, Helsinki–Tallinn, Railway Tunnel"] Geotechnical Division of the Real Estate Department of the City Of Helsinki. 2008.

Jaakko Blomberg, Gunnar Okk. [http://www.vnk.fi/julkaisut/listaus/julkaisu/en.jsp?oid=234242 "Opportunities for Cooperation between Estonia and Finland 2008"] Prime Minister’s Office, Finland. 2008.

External Links

* [http://www.hs.fi/kuvat/iso_webkuva/1135238774150.jpeg Preliminary Plan for the Helsinki-Tallinn Tunnel from 1997] , Helsingin Sanomat, August 19, 2008.

References