| Re: Finland and Estonia ponder undersea railway tunnel Posted by broadgage at 15:53, 12th February 2025 |     |
It is easy to make bridge piers or supports immune to damage from ships, simply build an island around the support in order that any out of control ship may run aground without damage to the bridge.
| Re: Finland and Estonia ponder undersea railway tunnel Posted by eightonedee at 19:08, 10th February 2025 | |
I have limited faith in long underwater rail tunnels. Mainly due to the risks of fire.
I feel that more use could be made of bridges instead. These days it should be possible to build long bridges high enough that any likely ship can pass under it.
I feel that more use could be made of bridges instead. These days it should be possible to build long bridges high enough that any likely ship can pass under it.
Sadly, the biggest threat is probably Vladimir Putin. I guess he'd really like an excuse for revenge for the attack on the Kerch bridge.
| Re: Finland and Estonia ponder undersea railway tunnel Posted by ellendune at 11:48, 10th February 2025 | |
A bridge is much more vulnerable to being hit by a ship, whether accidentally or otherwise. (Think what happened to the Severn Railway Bridge or more recently the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore). They also are vulnerable to closure during storms.
| Re: Finland and Estonia ponder undersea railway tunnel Posted by broadgage at 22:38, 9th February 2025 | |
I have limited faith in long underwater rail tunnels. Mainly due to the risks of fire.
I feel that more use could be made of bridges instead. These days it should be possible to build long bridges high enough that any likely ship can pass under it.
Tunnels consume electricity continually for ventilation, cooling and removing water, a bridge does not.
| Re: Finland and Estonia ponder undersea railway tunnel Posted by Noggin at 22:06, 9th February 2025 | |
Given the number of recent "accidents" involving anchors and cables, it's perhaps a good idea to build tunnels for the more sensitive, ideally with a railway line running alongside.
| Re: Finland and Estonia ponder undersea railway tunnel Posted by grahame at 19:43, 7th February 2025 | |
It's quite likely that Estonia sees this as more than just a transport link. There are a large number of Russians living in Estonia ^ off the top of my head it could be a third of the population ^ who, due to decisions taken when Estonia became independent, were never given Estonian citizenship. So they not only speak Russian and think of themselves as Russian but have Russian citizenship. Estonia fears that Putin (or perhaps whoever succeeds him one day) could use this as a lever to interfere in the country's government or even annex part of it, in a similar way to Crimea. Estonia is culturally close to Finland and since the early 90s has viewed Finland as a sort of protector, so this tunnel not only emphasises that link but could give Finland a legitimate excuse to support Estonia militarily in the event it was needed.
Unless France has unsuspected ambitions, the Isle of Wight is not in a similar position!
Unless France has unsuspected ambitions, the Isle of Wight is not in a similar position!
From the Daily echo
Can we get a rail tunnel under the Solent to Isle of Wight?
With Hovertravel facing financial challenges and climate change making our weather increasingly wet and windy, it is becoming difficult to always rely on ferries and hovercraft to provide a reliable service.
If a rail tunnel was constructed under the Solent the cost would eventually be justified.
As well as passengers, the railway line could carry freight, taking it off our crumbling roads.
Our current ferries, especially on the Cowes route, are nearing the end of their efficient lifespan.
With Hovertravel facing financial challenges and climate change making our weather increasingly wet and windy, it is becoming difficult to always rely on ferries and hovercraft to provide a reliable service.
If a rail tunnel was constructed under the Solent the cost would eventually be justified.
As well as passengers, the railway line could carry freight, taking it off our crumbling roads.
Our current ferries, especially on the Cowes route, are nearing the end of their efficient lifespan.
Until recently, I would not have thought of France wanting to take over the Isle of Wight ... but with the USA with designs on Greenland, perhaps it would be a good defensive idea to tunnel to the IoW?
| Re: Finland and Estonia ponder undersea railway tunnel Posted by Bmblbzzz at 23:33, 5th January 2016 | |
It's quite likely that Estonia sees this as more than just a transport link. There are a large number of Russians living in Estonia ^ off the top of my head it could be a third of the population ^ who, due to decisions taken when Estonia became independent, were never given Estonian citizenship. So they not only speak Russian and think of themselves as Russian but have Russian citizenship. Estonia fears that Putin (or perhaps whoever succeeds him one day) could use this as a lever to interfere in the country's government or even annex part of it, in a similar way to Crimea. Estonia is culturally close to Finland and since the early 90s has viewed Finland as a sort of protector, so this tunnel not only emphasises that link but could give Finland a legitimate excuse to support Estonia militarily in the event it was needed.
Unless France has unsuspected ambitions, the Isle of Wight is not in a similar position!
| Re: Finland and Estonia ponder undersea railway tunnel Posted by John R at 22:40, 5th January 2016 | |
... and perhaps the Penarth - Weston tunnel, which will improve connectivity no end between North Somerset and (the former) South Glamorgan.
| Finland and Estonia ponder undersea railway tunnel Posted by grahame at 22:01, 5th January 2016 | |
From Reuters
A bit out of area ... but then we learn from seeing what others do around the world. I understand that ideas are being sought as to how to take the Island Line forward, and perhaps ...
Finland and Estonia on Tuesday agreed to explore the possibility of constructing an undersea railway tunnel between their capitals.
Tens of thousands of Estonians work in the Helsinki region, many of whom commute over the Baltic Sea weekly, and many Finnish tourists visit Tallinn.
"Helsinki and Tallinn together form an economic area of approximately 1.5 million people. To fully utilize the area's potential, transport between the cities should be faster and flow easier than at present," the city of Helsinki said in a statement.
It added that a tunnel would shorten the travel time between the cities to about 30 minutes, from at least 90 minutes currently by fast ferry. The tunnel would be 65-92 km (40-60 miles) long.
Tens of thousands of Estonians work in the Helsinki region, many of whom commute over the Baltic Sea weekly, and many Finnish tourists visit Tallinn.
"Helsinki and Tallinn together form an economic area of approximately 1.5 million people. To fully utilize the area's potential, transport between the cities should be faster and flow easier than at present," the city of Helsinki said in a statement.
It added that a tunnel would shorten the travel time between the cities to about 30 minutes, from at least 90 minutes currently by fast ferry. The tunnel would be 65-92 km (40-60 miles) long.
