Keith Dawson
e-mail: kmdawson@dlc.fi
27 July 1997
In HS (19.7) it was reported that Marja Rata which includes the important railway link to Helsinki-Vantaa airport would not be completed before 2020 - if at all. Everything depends on how quickly and how tightly housing can be built at Marja-Vantaa. Another obstacle is supposedly Ilmailulaitos's opposition to losing its income from car parking.
The benefits of an improved public transport network appear to have been over-looked during this in-fighting. Regardless of the fate of Marja-Vantaa, the route would provide a useful link to the airport from north, east south and west, for airport travellers and workers, and would also cut down pollution from the use of private cars and domestic air transport, so should be built quickly.
The cost calculation presents the worst case to support building. But costs would reduce significantly if at the first stage only the necessary stations were built, perhaps only the airport station. If the whole track was constructed in one stage RHK's cost estimates ignore in land and infrastructure costs saved by deleting the terminal facilities for M, I and P trains and running-cost savings for VR, by omitting the lay-overs at the current terminals in Vantaankoski, Tikkurila and Hiekkaharju.
I also wonder if Vantaa's leaders have recognised the economic benefits to the city, by promoting a railway line from the countries main airport to run through both its main commercial centres? Not forgetting the added attractiveness for people to come to live in Vantaa who could enjoy such a rail link, running up to 24 hours a day.
Once again a public transport development plan has to be postponed for decades because the infrastructure requirements are exaggerated and the plans for construction have not been fully integrated to show all the benefits.
Regards,
Keith Dawson