Travel boost: Finland and Estonia plan to jointly build a "Baltic Sea underwater tunnel"

▲Famous landmark in Helsinki, the capital of Finland (Photo / Wikipedia)

By Rita

According to reports from Helsinki, Finland and Estonia have reached an agreement to jointly construct an underwater railway tunnel across the Baltic Sea, connecting the two countries' capitals, Helsinki and Tallinn. In addition to meeting commuting needs, this project is also seen as having great tourism potential: many Estonians commute to Finland for work weekly, primarily using ferries, while Finns frequently visit Tallinn for holidays.

"Helsinki and Tallinn form a common economic region, which is estimated to have a population of around 1.5 million. To make the most of this potential, transportation needs to be more efficient," said Helsinki officials.

This underwater tunnel crossing the Baltic Sea is expected to shorten travel time by about 30 minutes compared to the fastest current cruise ships. The tunnel is approximately 65–90 kilometers long, with completion targeted for 2025 and operation by 2030. The project may cost around 13 billion euros.