Sakhalin-Hokkaido Tunnel
Encyclopedia
The Sakhalin-Hokkaidō Tunnel (or potentially bridge) is a proposed connection to link the Russia
n island of Sakhalin
with the Japan
ese island of Hokkaidō
. Estimates by Russia put the price at $50bn.
(or bridge) to the Russian mainland could be taken as a nod towards future rail cooperation between Russia and Japan.
The tunnel would span roughly 40-45 km between Cape Crillon
in Russia to Cape Sōya
in Japan. To the north, it might connect with the proposed Sakhalin Tunnel
, for which an invitation to submit proposals has just be announced by the Russian Government. Once on the Russian mainland the rail link could connect to the rest of the Russian (and hence European) rail network, allowing for gauge changes. Running south, from Hokkaido, the line would connect with the Seikan Tunnel
between Hokkaidō and Honshū, currently the longest undersea tunnel in the world. This would allow connections to the rest of the Japanese rail network.
The project could be seen as an alternative to the Japan-Korea Undersea Tunnel
, as Russia is already under way with planning and construction of many of the necessary linkages on the Russian side, whilst the tunnel itself would be considerably shorter than that between Japan and Korea.
As well as the great cost and engineering difficulty, there may be political problems, particularly in regards to the Kuril Islands dispute
between Russia and Japan. The Japanese government's initial reaction has been cool towards the idea.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n island of Sakhalin
Sakhalin
Sakhalin or Saghalien, is a large island in the North Pacific, lying between 45°50' and 54°24' N.It is part of Russia, and is Russia's largest island, and is administered as part of Sakhalin Oblast...
with the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese island of Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
. Estimates by Russia put the price at $50bn.
Overview
On January 16, 2009, the Russian Vice-Minister of Transport, Andrei Nedossekov, confirmed that proposals are now under consideration in regards to the Sakhalin-Hokkaidō Tunnel. His decision to invite Japanese companies to bid to become consortium members of a wide array of Russian rail infrastructure work, particularly the Sakhalin TunnelSakhalin Tunnel
The Sakhalin Tunnel is an incomplete and currently postponed construction project, which after completion would connect the island of Sakhalin with mainland Russia via a tunnel of approximately 10 km under the Nevelskoy Strait...
(or bridge) to the Russian mainland could be taken as a nod towards future rail cooperation between Russia and Japan.
The tunnel would span roughly 40-45 km between Cape Crillon
Cape Crillon
Cape Crillon is the southernmost point of Sakhalin. The cape was named by Frenchman Jean-François de La Pérouse, who was the first European to discover it. Cape Sōya, in Japan, is located 43km to the south, across La Pérouse Strait....
in Russia to Cape Sōya
Cape Soya
is the northernmost point of the island of Hokkaidō, Japan. It is situated in Wakkanai, Sōya Subprefecture. The is at the cape, although the true northernmost point under Japanese control is a small deserted island called Bentenjima, 1 km northwest...
in Japan. To the north, it might connect with the proposed Sakhalin Tunnel
Sakhalin Tunnel
The Sakhalin Tunnel is an incomplete and currently postponed construction project, which after completion would connect the island of Sakhalin with mainland Russia via a tunnel of approximately 10 km under the Nevelskoy Strait...
, for which an invitation to submit proposals has just be announced by the Russian Government. Once on the Russian mainland the rail link could connect to the rest of the Russian (and hence European) rail network, allowing for gauge changes. Running south, from Hokkaido, the line would connect with the Seikan Tunnel
Seikan Tunnel
The Seikan Tunnel is a railway tunnel in Japan, with a long portion under the seabed. Track level is about below seabed and below sea level. It travels beneath the Tsugaru Strait—connecting Aomori Prefecture on the Japanese island of Honshu and the island of Hokkaido—as part of the Kaikyo Line...
between Hokkaidō and Honshū, currently the longest undersea tunnel in the world. This would allow connections to the rest of the Japanese rail network.
The project could be seen as an alternative to the Japan-Korea Undersea Tunnel
Japan-Korea Undersea Tunnel
The Japan–Korea Undersea Tunnel is a proposed tunnel project to connect Japan with Republic of Korea via an undersea tunnel crossing the Korea Strait using the strait islands of Iki and Tsushima, a straight-line distance of approximately at its shortest.The proposal, under discussion...
, as Russia is already under way with planning and construction of many of the necessary linkages on the Russian side, whilst the tunnel itself would be considerably shorter than that between Japan and Korea.
As well as the great cost and engineering difficulty, there may be political problems, particularly in regards to the Kuril Islands dispute
Kuril Islands dispute
The Kuril Islands dispute , also known as the , is a dispute between Japan and Russia over sovereignty over the South Kuril Islands. The disputed islands, which were occupied by Soviet forces during the Manchurian Strategic Offensive Operation at the end of World War II, are under Russian...
between Russia and Japan. The Japanese government's initial reaction has been cool towards the idea.