Multi-million pound project will create tunnels to four outlying isles in the Shetland archipelago, replacing ferries
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A new multi-million pound plan to replace ferries with a network of undersea tunnels in the Shetland Islands has been announced by the island’s council. When completed, these tunnels would connect four outlying isles in the archipelago, including Unst – the most northernly place in the UK.
The Shetlands have taken inspiration for this new infrastructure from the Faroes, which already boasts a network of 23 underground tunnels – four of which are underwater – connecting its eighteen islands.
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These tunnels make it easier for both visitors and residents to navigate between islands, particularly in harsh weather conditions. The Faroe Islands tunnel network even features the world’s only undersea roundabout.
Compared to ferries, tunnels cut travel time significantly. Now, more than 90 per cent of people in the Faroe Islands are linked together through this means.
‘People can live and thrive in smaller settlements while still participating fully in island life and commuting to “the central labour market” in Tórshavn,’ explains dean of the Faculty of History and Social Sciences at the University of the Faroe Islands Professor Erika Anne Hayfield.
As of yet, there is no estimated cost for construction or a timeframe for the Shetland network; however, some sources report that a detailed plan of the tunnels will be completed early next year, with further decisions to follow later in 2026. To fund the project, it is likely the council will borrow money and pay it back through enforced tolls.
Currently, the Shetland Council run ferry services to nine islands, carrying a total of 750,000 passengers per year, at a cost of 23 million annually. However, costs have significantly risen in the last ten years, with some routes struggling to meet the demand for vehicle places. Additionally, bad weather can interrupt supplies being delivered to the island.
Tunnels could provide a more robust transport link and open up more of the island for businesses, enhancing its ‘economic viability’ according to external affairs manager of Saxavord Spaceport Elizabeth Johnson.
