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A historic 87km tunnel project that would connect Holyhead to Dublin, promising to revolutionise transport, generate sustainable energy and move billions, has been shelved following controversy and high costs.
This was the plan for the Holyhead-Dublin tunnel, an idea that promised to revolutionize transport between Ireland and England, but which faced challenges that relegated it to the archives. Let's dive into the details of this impressive project that divided opinion.
Great Britain and Ireland have a peculiar relationship. Although they are geographically close, they are separated by the Irish Sea. Northern Ireland already has political links with the United Kingdom, but physically, the connection is non-existent. To solve this, several projects emerged over the years, including bridges and tunnels to link Northern Ireland to Scotland and the Republic of Ireland to Wales.
Among these ideas, the Holyhead-Dublin corridor stood out, as it directly linked two important economic centers. The proposal offered the potential to transform the transportation of people and goods, bringing great economic and logistical benefits.
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The ambition to connect Holyhead and Dublin via a tunnel
This connection would not be unprecedented. In the 87th century, a train nicknamed “The Irish Mail” already ran between London and Holyhead, with goods continuing their journey by ferry to Dublin. The new proposal, however, involved an 64 km underwater tunnel, a pharaonic project that would leave behind the XNUMX km tunnel under the Alps.
Former president of the British Tunneling Society, Bill Grose, highlighted the viability of this route, saying it is shorter and strategically positioned to connect Dublin to major British hubs such as Manchester and Liverpool.
The promised benefits and the high costs
The promises were impressive: 35 jobs during construction and a significant economic boost for the region. However, the estimated cost of £15 billion was a difficult hurdle to overcome. Although the tunnel was only 100 metres deep, making it easy to engineer, the project faced resistance because of its astronomical cost.
Why was the project archived?
Despite its advantages, the tunnel was deemed unviable. In 2021, the Financial Times declared the project “dead, at least for now.” Statements such as that of Dominic Cummings, who called the project “the stupidest tunnel in the world,” reflected the skepticism surrounding the idea.
Compared to other European infrastructure projects, such as the Germany-Denmark tunnel, Holyhead-Dublin seemed less urgent and attractive. There was a perception that Ireland had more to gain than England, making it difficult to justify the investment to the British.
An idea ahead of its time?
Despite the shelving of the project, some arguments suggest that the project could be resumed in the future. The idea of using the tunnel to generate sustainable energy, with wind, marine and solar sources, brings a modern perspective and is aligned with current environmental demands.
Advances in automation and autonomous vehicles could make tunnels more useful, transporting cargo efficiently. Switzerland, for example, plans a 500km underground network for autonomous vehicles by 2040, suggesting that the future could be more hospitable to projects like Holyhead-Dublin.
The world's longest tunnel is still a distant dream. While economic and political challenges weigh against the project, the potential for innovation and sustainability could rescue it in a more advanced scenario. If built, Holyhead-Dublin will not just be a tunnel, but a landmark in how engineering and forward-thinking can transform human connections.
