Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

According to the EuroTAP inspectors, yes!. The European Tunnel Assessment Programme (EuroTAP) carried out this year produced a sensational result, all of the 13 tubes tested in Croatia, Spain, Switzerland and Germany, received positive ratings. Nine tunnels received a Very Good rating, three were rated Good and even the worst candidate this year received an Acceptable rating.

The overall result would have been even better were it not for the Schlossberg tunnel in Heidelberg, Germany, and the Piqueras tunnel near Soria, Spain. Both tunnels were downgraded from Very Good to Good due to a Very Poor rating in one of the categories. The German tunnel yielded deficiencies in the "tunnel system" category whilst the Spanish tunnel was downgraded because of its failings in the "ventilation"category. (Continue here).