Around the world, there are some truly iconic tunnels. From the engineering marvel of the popular Channel Tunnel linking the UK and France to the world's longest and deepest tunnel, the Gotthard Tunnel in Switzerland, we love traveling through subterranean worlds!
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However, some of the world's biggest tunnels are less popular than others despite the hefty investment that goes into these feats of engineering. The longest underwater tunnel in the world is now barely used.
So, while conversing about a transatlantic underwater tunnel linking the US and the UK, let's look at the world's biggest - and most underutilized - case study! While it might seem easy to beat traffic and hide unsightly roads away from public view, is it worth the billions of dollars spent?
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The Seikan Tunnel In Japan Is Barely Being Used Today
Cheap, fast flights between Honshu and Hokkaido are rendering the tunnel surplus to requirements
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Located in Japan, the world's longest underwater tunnel, the Seikan Tunnel, runs between the popular main islands of Honshu and Hokkaido. Honshu is home to many of Japan's major cities, including Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, Japan's ancient capital and tourism hotspot. To the north, Hokkaido is a popular destination for travelers looking to spend a week escaping the Honshu heat, especially to enjoy the ski season in Sapporo.
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However, the Seikan Tunnel isn't designed for cars. Instead, this is exclusively a train tunnel. Running 33.46 miles, around half of which is underwater, it's an insane feat of engineering. When you factor in that, it was built to withstand earthquakes and tsunamis -- both of which are, unfortunately, pretty regular occurrences in Japan -- it takes things to another level.
Despite this, the Seikan Tunnel is waning in popularity. Cheaper and quicker flights between the islands have become the go-to option for travelers looking to get between Honshu and Hokkaido. With increased routes and more affordable airlines cropping up, the need for the tunnel is becoming lower.
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Why Was The Seikan Tunnel Built In The First Place?
When the tunnel was planned, ferries ruled the Japanese transportation industry
Opening of the Seikan Tunnel
So, if flights are both cheaper and quicker than taking the train through the Seikan Tunnel, then why was it built in the first place? Well, context matters. The Seikan Tunnel began construction in 1964 and wasn't completed until 1988. In the 1950s, when this tunnel was proposed, ferries ruled the waves along the Tsugaru Strait. However, frequent typhoons were wreaking havoc, resulting in a ferry disaster caused by the 1954 typhoon that killed 1,400 people.
Around 3,000 workers were digging the tunnel at any time during tunnel-building. Of course, creating an underwater tunnel was a perilous job, and sadly, 34 people died in the 24 years of the Seikan Tunnel's construction. The result is a train tunnel that only takes around 24 minutes from the end to get through. However, the overall journey time from the city and the cost and journey time versus the flight alternative has meant that the tunnel sees far fewer passengers than it did when it first opened.
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Despite being the pride of the Japanese engineering industry and remaining the longest and deepest underwater tunnel in the world, times have changed since the tunnel began construction in 1964. However, the increase in sustainable travel and slow train travel over emission-heavy flights may see the tide turn.
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How Can You Travel Through The Seikan Tunnel Today?
With a reduction in services, there is only one main train style that goes through the tunnel
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You can only travel through the Seikan Tunnel by train, which has caused some issues. Initially, slower commercial passenger trains went through the tunnel alongside the regular freight tunnels, which brought goods, such as agricultural products, between the two islands. These worked side by side pretty well until 2016.
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In 2016, the Shinkansen, otherwise known as the bullet train, was allowed to go through the Seikan Tunnel. Until this point, the tunnel couldn't accommodate the speed and technology of this newer train. The slower, alternative passenger trains stopped operating when the bullet train appeared.
However, the speed of the bullet train can cause shockwaves along the rails. This can be an issue if there's a freight train in the tunnel. So, if there is both a bullet train and a freight train in the Seikan Tunnel simultaneously, the bullet train isn't allowed to travel at its full speed for safety reasons. This means there are a lot of coordination and scheduling efforts, meaning the passenger routes aren't always super frequent.
If you're traveling around Japan on a JRPass, the most popular Shinkansen rail pass, this does include travel through the Seikan Tunnel. This means you won't have to pay extra, but you may want to reserve your passage in advance.
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So, despite costing billions to build and maintain, the world's longest underwater tunnel, the Seikan Tunnel in Japan, is barely being used. A combination of quicker and cheaper flights between Honshu and Hokkaido has made the crossing almost obsolete from a traveler's perspective.