Routes & Operators
Committee says Shetland tunnel plan warrants serious consideration
The UK Parliament’s Scottish Affairs Committee says a £1.5 billion plan for tunnels around Shetland warrants serious consideration by the UK and Scottish governments. The committee says bridges and tunnels would complement ferry services, and that improving unreliable ferries remains urgent.
Source: Shetland News (opens in a new tab)
Shetland News reported on 16 October 2026 that Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee has published a 40-page report on fixed links for Scotland’s islands.
The committee said a £1.5 billion plan for tunnels around Shetland warrants serious consideration from both the UK and Scottish governments. The tunnels would connect Shetland’s mainland with outer isles including Yell, Unst and Whalsay. Shetland Islands Council agreed last month to prioritise a fixed link to Yell. Shetland News said that link alone would cost over £500 million, and that a tunnel to Unst, the second priority, would take the cost beyond £1 billion.
The Scottish Government has committed £23 million over the next three years for pre-construction work on the first fixed link. No long-term capital funding plan is in place. The committee said the UK Government, which has provided funding for a new Fair Isle ferry, should not treat fixed links as only a devolved matter. Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said he would approach any UK support with an open mind.
Committee chair Patricia Ferguson said unreliable ferry services place intolerable limitations on islanders, from healthcare and education to running businesses. The report finds that, where viable, bridges and tunnels could bring transformative benefits, but would complement rather than replace ferries, and that improving ferry reliability remains an urgent priority.