Tunnel to Jersey "not worth pursuing"

Monday 13 January 2020

The politician in charge of growing Guernsey's economy has given short shrift to a businessman's idea for an underwater train link to Jersey.

Entrepreneur Martyn Dorey has long thought there should be an underwater link connecting the two islands.

Earlier this month, he unveiled his most detailed proposals yet, which feature plans for a £2.6 billion rail link connecting St Peter Port and St Helier in just 15 minutes. 

Although Mr Dorey considers it to be a primarily private sector project, he said it would require States support in the early stages, for example carrying out a feasibility study. 

That support is unlikely to come on Economic Development President Charles Parkinson's watch.

"Personally, I don’t think it is worth pursuing this idea," he told Express. "The marginal economic benefit of being able to get to Jersey by train, compared to the present air and sea links, would be slight, and the cost would be colossal."

Pictured: Businessman Martyn Dorey is the man behind the rail tunnel idea. 

Fellow Economic Development member Neil Inder was similarly dismissive of the idea.

"If I had £2.5 billion I wouldn't be spending it on a tunnel to Jersey."

Of his project, Mr Dorey said: "It would take about five years to get established and we want to see government support for the initial years, as it will take many years to bring investors on board. The first question is how do we get the feasibility study paid for, as that is not something they (a private investor) would usually do."

In terms of how the States and the taxpayer would benefit from it, Mr Dorey said the tax take from the project would be "off the scale", while there would be many economic, cultural and travel benefits.

"The repayment time would depend on the growth in GDP, which may see a 25% boost if you see how people behave when they have a high speed travel link," he said. 

Pictured top: A graphic of the plans supplied by Ramboll. Inset, Deputy Charles Parkinson.