Milestones of decision-making with regard to building a tunnel between Finland and Estonia
| 1993 | The first brief study by Finnish geologists and engineers regarding the technical and economic potential of a tunnel | |
| 2014 | City of Helsinki, City of Tallinn, and Harju County Government of Estonia order a pre-feasibility study on a fixed link between the two cities (Talsinkifix project) | |
| 2015 | Talsinkifix pre-feasibility report published – socio-economic impacts found to be substantial. Investment of 9–13 billion euro. Potential start of construction in 2025–2030. A full feasibility study proposed | |
| 2016 | For a full feasibility study, FinEst Link cooperation document signed by the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communication, the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication, the City of Helsinki, the City of Tallinn, the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council, and the Harju County Government of Estonia. Focus on technical and economic feasibility | |
| 2017 | Private initiative, Finest Bay Area Development, run by some famous Finnish IT entrepreneurs and began designing an alternative concept for the tunnel | |
| February | 2018 | The final report of the FinEst Link feasibility study published. Investment of 16 billion euro. Financially most feasible when partly financed by EU grants. As a next step, formation of a development vehicle is suggested |
| March | 2018 | Task force – a joint effort between the public authorities of Finland and Estonia – established to analyse the findings of the FinEst Link study |
| May | 2018 | Task force report published – various positive effects found. Eight recommendations for the governments of Finland and Estonia. Private sector involvement seen as necessary. A memorandum of understanding between the two countries is suggested by the end of 2018 |
| December | 2018 | Private initiative, Finest Bay Area Development, submits a request for initiation of a national designated spatial planning process in Estonia for building an undersea rail tunnel between Helsinki and Tallinn as well as a related artificial island in the Finnish Gulf |
| November | 2019 | The new Finnish government prioritizes the construction and modernization of domestic rail infrastructures. No concrete activities planned regarding the Helsinki–Tallinn rail tunnel. The Finnish government's previous decision to acquire ownership of the international Rail Baltica project is cancelled |
| April | 2021 | Finland and Estonia sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the transport sector. The MoU states that the Helsinki–Tallinn tunnel is a unique project of the future that would require innovative actions and diversified sources of funding. Together with Rail Baltica, it would provide a quick access to Central Europe. The states are not bound by the MoU to any individual projects |
| 1993 | The first brief study by Finnish geologists and engineers regarding the technical and economic potential of a tunnel | |
| 2014 | City of Helsinki, City of Tallinn, and Harju County Government of Estonia order a pre-feasibility study on a fixed link between the two cities (Talsinkifix project) | |
| 2015 | Talsinkifix pre-feasibility report published – socio-economic impacts found to be substantial. Investment of 9–13 billion euro. Potential start of construction in 2025–2030. A full feasibility study proposed | |
| 2016 | For a full feasibility study, FinEst Link cooperation document signed by the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communication, the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication, the City of Helsinki, the City of Tallinn, the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council, and the Harju County Government of Estonia. Focus on technical and economic feasibility | |
| 2017 | Private initiative, Finest Bay Area Development, run by some famous Finnish IT entrepreneurs and began designing an alternative concept for the tunnel | |
| February | 2018 | The final report of the FinEst Link feasibility study published. Investment of 16 billion euro. Financially most feasible when partly financed by EU grants. As a next step, formation of a development vehicle is suggested |
| March | 2018 | Task force – a joint effort between the public authorities of Finland and Estonia – established to analyse the findings of the FinEst Link study |
| May | 2018 | Task force report published – various positive effects found. Eight recommendations for the governments of Finland and Estonia. Private sector involvement seen as necessary. A memorandum of understanding between the two countries is suggested by the end of 2018 |
| December | 2018 | Private initiative, Finest Bay Area Development, submits a request for initiation of a national designated spatial planning process in Estonia for building an undersea rail tunnel between Helsinki and Tallinn as well as a related artificial island in the Finnish Gulf |
| November | 2019 | The new Finnish government prioritizes the construction and modernization of domestic rail infrastructures. No concrete activities planned regarding the Helsinki–Tallinn rail tunnel. The Finnish government's previous decision to acquire ownership of the international Rail Baltica project is cancelled |
| April | 2021 | Finland and Estonia sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the transport sector. The MoU states that the Helsinki–Tallinn tunnel is a unique project of the future that would require innovative actions and diversified sources of funding. Together with Rail Baltica, it would provide a quick access to Central Europe. The states are not bound by the MoU to any individual projects |
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