The estimated costs of the proposed rail tunnel between Helsinki and Tallinn is EUR 16 billion and will take 15 years of construction works, according to the latest report. The report was presented at a conference, in the presence of Estonian Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, Finland’s Ambassador for Baltic Sea Affairs, Erja Tikka, together with both countries’ transport ministers, and Helsinki and Tallinn mayors.
The study says that the cost of the project, including the standard gauge line, terminals and stations, is estimated at a total value of EUR 13-20 billion. The amount practically includes tunnel construction, two artificial islands, planning costs, stations, terminals and depots excluding the costs for rolling stock. The total length of the planned tunnel is 107.4 km.
The FinEst Link final report identifies a tunnel system with two single-track tunnels and one service tunnel with cross-passages. Rails for crossing cargo trains are built in the stations. The maintenance of the tunnel is carried out at night time. 
After a planning phase, the building and boring of the tunnel could start in 2025 and it can be put into commercial operation in 2040.
The new project will cut travel time from 2 hours to 30 minutes and will ensure transport services for 12,5 million passengers and 4 million tonnes per year until 2050.
From 2016, EUR 1.3 million were provided for project’s analysis and reports.
According to FinEst Link feasibility study, the railway tunnel would help create a metropolitan twin-city region of three million inhabitants in the future where people, goods and services could move around easily.
The Helsinki–Tallinn tunnel would enable daily commuting across the Gulf of Finland and connect the rail network from Central Europe via Finland to the Arctic. The feasibility study is made as conventional railway both for passengers and freight and good connection to both countries transport systems.
“From the viewpoint of deeper twin-city integration and regional development there could be major benefits from the tunnel. Geographically Finland resembles an island and the tunnel would offer a connection to the Central European rail network,” FinEst Link Project Director Kari Ruohonen said.
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