A railway tunnel between Helsinki and Tallinn?

By | 2018 Newsletter week 06 | No Comments

The “FinEst Link” project states that a fast connection between Helsinki and Tallinn could bring major regional, national benefits and growth potential for Europe.
According to a feasibility study, the railway tunnel would help create a metropolitan twin-city region of three million inhabitants where people, goods and services could move around easily. The expanding labour market would create economic growth, open new possibilities for businesses and improve the quality of life.
A travel time of only 30 minutes would enable daily commuting across the Gulf of Finland.
The investment cost of the railway tunnel has been estimated at €13–20 billion and it should require 15 years to build.
A conference was held on February 7.

SHORT NEWS

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STENA FORERUNNER has been fully painted in Stena Line colours after her “white” charter with Transfennica. She is now serving the Rotterdam-Harwich route together with STENA SCOTIA.

  • Ro-pax COPERNICUS arrived in Szczecin on January 30. It is the latest acquisition of Euroafrica Shipping Lines Cyprus Ltd. In May she will operate under the colours of Unity Line between Świnoujście (Poland) and Ystad (Sweden). Unity Line already operates her twin, GALILEUSZ.
  • Ro-pax ferry POLONIA (Unity Line) sees a change in the classification society, from the Polish Register of Shipping to DNVGL. She currently is being overhauled.
  • Seajets purchased the high-speed craft VILLUM CLAUSEN from Færgen. Delivery expected in May 2018.
  • VIKING GRACE has operated from Turku to Stockholm for five years. Port of Turku writes on its LinkedIn page that the ferry will hit the six million passenger mark this week (week 6).
  • Corsica Ferries are running a special 3-day Bastia-Civitavecchia trip on 30 March with the SARDINA REGINA. It will allow people to see the Pope’s Easter blessing.
  • End of January Transport Scotland published its Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan  The PDF can be downloaded here.

Photo: Glen Lammas

Successful slipway launch for Victoria

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Wightlink’s new ferry for the Fishbourne-Portsmouth route -VICTORIA OF WIGHT- is nearing completion. She was launched at the Cemre shipyard in Turkey on Wednesday 7 February.
At the same time Wightlink started to extend the upper car deck of its current flagship ST CLARE to increase her capacity.
Double deck boarding ramps were built and installed at both Portsmouth and Fishbourne car ferry terminals to allow vehicles to be loaded on two levels at the same time.
The arrival of VICTORIA OF WIGHT completes the whole project.

Photo: Wightlink