Pajunen met with acting mayor of Tallinn Taavi Aas on Tuesday to discuss the two cities’ present and future cooperation. Among the topics discussed were Rail Baltic and its effects along with a possible tunnel between the two capitals.

They also discussed Helsinki’s plan to implement an integrated system for the payment of public transport and parking.

A tunnel between Tallinn and Helsinki would be a massive undertaking, and most likely be connected with the completion of the planned Rail Baltic high-speed route. Pajunen said that the most important thing right now were the feasibility studies concerning the tunnel.

“It is extremely important that we know exactly what we are planning, and what we are planning to start building,” Pajunen said. He sees the project directly connected with Rail Baltic. “In the case of Rail Baltic the estimates are that it could take up operations in 2025. This is also the earliest time when a Tallinn-Helsinki tunnel could be ready,” Pajunen said.