News 1998Rautaruukki's Transtech will manufacture more double-deck carriages for VR. The deal for 50 double-deckers, valued at FIM 500million, was finalised on 22.12.1998. The cars will be built at Transtech's Otanmäki factory, and domestic content is valued at 70%. Of the new cars 40 are standard passenger cars having 113 seats and 10 are so-called service cars having 83 seats and space for 2 wheelchairs. The service cars are designed with the needs of families and the disabled in mind. The carriages are estimated for completion during 2002. The new deal is a continuation of the current order for 42 cars, of which 13 are already in traffic and the remainder by 2000.
By next summer all InterCity trains will include at least one double-decker car. The first double-decker entered traffic last summer and are now in use on all 8 InterCity routes. The new cars bring extra capacity to VR's InterCity trains. In the main the investment is for replacements as the new cars replace older stock. Feedback about the new vans has been positive and also disabled groups have been thankful for the new service cars which ease movement. Double-decker cars are just a metre higher than normal passenger cars. The InterCity brandname has been in use for 10 years (in Finland).
Source VR uutisia
Source WWW
http://www.vr.fi/uuttae.htm#transtech
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
VR's second bidding round for railbuses has not succeeded either. The preferred European manufacturer withdrew from the procurement when it became clear it would not be able to meet the agreed conditions. VR will now start a new bidding round and hopes to get the railbuses into traffic in 2002. The original Spanish-built railbuses should have took to the rails (in passenger service) in 1997 but VR cancelled the FIM 80million deal because those delivered were too heavy and too noisy. The specification for all 3 bids has remained the same.
Transtech's Rautarukki Oy division is not taking part in the bidding. According to director Jorma Lukkari the reason for staying out is the start in planning enjoyed by others. In the first round everyone was on the same starting-line becuase VR's railbuses were of a new type. For the same reason the Spanish manufacturer did not succeed in producing the product. Those who took-part in the second round can now benefit from their earlier knowledge and cost calculations, but Transtech needs to start from the beginning, which without a doubt makes a difference in pricing.
Source Kainuun Sanomat, 22.12.1998; STT
Source WWW
http://weblehti.kainuunsanomat.fi/cgi-bin/weblehti?Newsp=ks&Depa=kotimaa&Date=981222&Model=juttusivu.html&Story=00722133.txt&StDate=981222&StTime=23%3A05%3A29
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Lapbelts should be fitted to all new or refurbished day carriages, suggests the Jyväskylä train accident's final report. Seatbelt usage would however be voluntary. Jyväskylä and Suonenjoki accident reports will be published in January. RHK's (Rail Administration Centre) new safety director Kari Alpiivuori, bases their use on the belief that (the belted) passenger no-longer collides with anything if the train should topple over. Seatbelts in trains are a rarity throughout the world but will become more common in public transport in the future.
Source MTV3, Uutiset, 21.12.1998
Source WWW
http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/arkisto/9812/981221/9812210109.html
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
VR's passenger ticket prices rise from the beginning of 1999. The increase is 1.9% on average. Long-distance traffic rises by 2% - for example one-way 2nd-class from Helsinki to Tampere rises to FIM 96. Journies under 56Km do not rise at all. Zonal traffic in the Helsinki region rises by 0.5% and regards only single trip or 10-trip tickets for 5-7 zone journies. Services and seat reservation prices stay the same. (Traffic in the YTV area, controlled by Helsinki's local councils is not affected by these increases - Ed.)
Source VR News, 17.12.1998
Source WWW
http://www.vr.fi/uutta.htm
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Communications Ministry and VR have agreed financial support for passenger train services in 1999. Including VAT the total cost is FIM 224million. The agreement comes into force when parliament approves the Ministry's budget for public transport subsidies. On the basis of the agreement VR runs economically unprofitable train services in different parts of Finland - in this way train service coverage remains at the current level.
Source Communications Ministry, 7.12.1998
Source WWW
http://www.vn.fi/lm/index.html
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
VR-Group has reached agreement about covering the platform concourse area. Work starts next March and should be ready by the end of the year. Main contractor is Lemminkäinen Oy. Because of the long delivery times for the special steels and glasswork the start has had to be delayed. The hall will be built according the plans of architect Esa Piironen who won the international planning competition arranged in 1995. The hall, which will be built on VR-Group owned land at the platform ends covers approximately 1 800m2, and costs a little under FIM 20million. It is intended to transfer ticket sales operations to the new hall. (No decision has yet been made on building a roof above the trainshed area of the station, which is owned by other parties - Ed.)
Source VR News, 2.12.1998
Source WWW
http://www.vr.fi/uutta.htm
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Scancem's subsiduary Finish Rail System Oy has given-up its business. The 3 year-old company has not received track work, as its owners would have hoped.
"Undeniably it has been a big disappointment to us, that we have not got to work on the rail network. We have not received invitations to tender - RataHallintoKeskus (Finland's rail administration body) has directed 95% of contracts to VR-Rata Oy (owned by VR), says FRS's MD Ka Brandstack.
In future Scancem tries to capture some Finnish business from Sweden. Swedish Rail System has succeeded better than its Finnish sister - its turnover already equals FIM 500million. Also the Danish sister company has received plenty of work including Copenhagen metro contracts. FRS's turnover has been about FIM 7million. the biggest part of that coming from equipment and material deliveries.
Source Tekniikka&Talous, 10.12.98
Source WWW
http://www.tekniikkatalous.com
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
This year the title was received by Pertti Hänninen for his model performance at the Jyväskylä train crash last March. He put the rescue services into action from the Jyväskylä control centre. In his acceptance speech he emphasized the importance of teamwork but also mentioned his worries over the stress and high retirement age in the rescue services. The Fireman of the Year was chosen for the 15th time since its introduction in 1982.
Source YLE TV-uutiset, 3.12.1998
Source WWW
http://www.yle.fi/tvuutiset/
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
The Railway Officials' Union is worrried about the Communications Ministry's plans to open the rail network to competition. The union's chairman Kari Kallio said that competition will not bring new choices or lower prices. Kallio spoke at the 2100 member, white-collar union's 125 year celebrations in Helsinki. He stated that experiences with bus competition in Finland and rail competition in the UK have been bad. It is generally known that the workforce has partly paid the price for bus competition in the capital region, and that foreign-owned firms have barged their way into the business with unprofitable pricing which means noticeable price increases in the future, he said. In the UK, experiences with rail competition have been negative for customers, traffic and the State, he added. Kallio suspects that competition on the railway would transfer traffic to roads, weaken safety and railworkers' job security.
In the summer a Communications Ministry working-group presented plans for opening the rail network to (limited) competition.
Source MTV3-Uutiset, 7.11.1998
Source WWW
http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Preservation on a nationwide scale, of some of the more important railway stations and their surroundings has been agreed upon, between the Office of Museums, VR and the State Property Department. The agreement regards nearly 900 buildings in 85 communities. The goal is to preserve the historical characteristics of the station areas, even though the buildings may be put to a new use. The announcement includes 115 railway station areas around Finland.
Source YLE TV-uutiset, 21.10.1998
Source WWW
http://www.yle.fi/tvuutiset/
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Rautaruukki notified it has sold Transtech's Taivalkoski railway wagon factory to Raahe based Telatek Oy. The factory's 93 workers all transfer as long-serving workers from the beginning of september. The purchase also includes the real-estate including machinery and equipment. The price has not been disclosed. The deal has saved the area from record unemployment, as it was feared unemployment would rise to 40 percent with the factory's closure. Family-owned Telatek had 120 employees and turnover of FIM 40million (before the deal). The Taivalkoski factory is intended to manufacture a new style of steerable propeller system for ships which are forecast to control a third of the World market.
After the deal Transtech has 350 staff at its Otanmäki factory and 30 staff at its Oulu offices. According to its owners Rautaruukki, Transtech has improved its receipts this year - the division has an orderbook worth FIM 650million.
Source YLE TV-uutiset, 31.8.1998 + 3.9.1998
Source WWW
http://www.yle.fi/tvuutiset/
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Turku's city leaders oppose VR's plans to concentrate its repairshop activities in the capital region (Helsinki), as VR's repairshop employs around 380 people in the Turku area. Yesterday VR's top management visited the Turku repairshop and attended meetings with the city's leaders. VR's CEO Henri Kuitunen told that nothing has been decided and a working group is still researching future arrangements. In Turku it is calculated that cutting the repairshop activities would take 300 jobs from Turku, as only the depot whi ch employs around 80 people would remain. Turku's unemployment rate is 19 per cent.
Source Uutislehti-100, 6.10.1998
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
The rail connection from Kiukainen to Säkylä will be opened to traffic after nearly a year. VR and Sucros Oy have made a five year agreement for the transportation of sugarbeet. A sugarbeet train will run once per day Mondays-Saturdays. There will be no traffic in winter. Between Kiukainen and Säkylä there are 5 protected and many unprotected track sections. The protected sections will be taken to use from the beginning of October.
Source Uutislehti-100, 15.9.1998
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
On Thursday (8.10) morning a piling machine used in motorway construction work toppled-over near the track at Paimio and damaged the overhead wiring, causing a break in train traffic until midday between Salo and Paimio. Passengers were transported by bus between Turku and Salo, causing journey times to increase by 20-30 minutes.
Source VR-Uutisia, 8.10.1998
Source WWW
http://www.vr.fi
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Main and platform displayboards will be renewed during this year and next year. Work has already started at Pasila and will start in Helsinki at the beginning of next year. The new boards will use liquid crystal technology, with a black background and yellow text. The flapper-type boards currently used in Helsinki and Pasila were taken into use in 1988, but in recent times have suffered many breakdowns caused by wear and tear in the mechanism. Many local stations in the Helsinki region already have liquid crystal displayboards in use.
Source VR-Uutisia, 8.10.1998
Source WWW
http://www.vr.fi
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
VR will change passenger timetables from 21.9.1998 until 11.1.1999. The trains' departure and arrival times will generally move 1-2 minutes and will effect 28 trains. The largest change is in the Sundays-only Iisalmi-Helsinki special-express's timing which slows by 16 minutes. The Sundays-only Jyväskylä-Helsinki special-express slows by 10 minutes. Connections are not affected. Some older carriages have mechanical wheel-slip systems which give a weak braking effect in slippery weather. For this reason these trains' maximum speeds will fall by 5-15km/h. Mechanical wheel-spins systems will be changed for electronic systems within 3 years.
Source MTV3-uutiset, 14.9.1998
Source WWW
http://www.mtv3.fi
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
July's train hijacker will not be punished. Vantaa district court found the man guilty of disturbance to (train) traffic and resisting arrest, but decided he was mentally disturbed. VR claimed FIM200,000 damages but the court ordered FIM13,000 damages. The male Estonian train hijacker will be kept in an asylum until he is deported. He was also banned from entering Finland. The Estonian man hijacked the local train at Vantaa in the middle of July which disrupted traffic but the incident did not cause any personal injuries.
Source MTV3-uutiset, 02.09.1998
Source WWW
http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/ko.html
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
The train drivers' trade union demands that RHK and VR-Group clarify whether the highest speed limits could be reduced to guarantee safety. Also timetables would need to be re-arranged to agree with the new speed limits. Today the train drivers trade union delivered to RHK and VR its paper on improving train safety. The paper concentrates on measures from which safety could be improved very quickly. Technical improvements, for example ATC, signalling renewals and improved train braking equipment will help only in 1-3 years time, the union reminds. Speed limitations should be considered on routes outside the ATC area. As other improvements the union suggests renewal of training, locomotives' inspection routines, and the rail safety organisation. Also, safety demands for trains travelling more than 120Km/h should be reviewed.
Source MTV3-uutiset, 02.09.98
Source WWW
http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/ko.html
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Finland's rail safety will rise to EU's highest level by 2002, the Rail Administration Centre (RHK) notified today. Reaching this level requires that no collisions occur and no personnel or train passengers die in accidents. RHK believes the most important methods to reach these goals are improved equipment and improved safety routines and control. Finland is already building many safety systems including ATC. Now RHK suggests radio systems, safety auditing and better administration of exceptional circumstances (e.g. traffic disruption). RHK had decided that ATC will be built on all lines by 2005, and will be in use on the main routes by 2001.
Source MTV3-uutiset, 02.09.98
Source WWW
http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/ko.html
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
According to Communications Minister Matti Aura, extending Helsinki's metro into Espoo is a matter for the two cities. At the opening of Vuosaari's metro Aura said the State would not decide on its building. According to Aura he has understood that the cities are hoping the State would act as the decision maker. If West-Metro will be built the State will however take part in in its funding - the same as for Vuosaari's metro, he said.
Source YLE, TV-uutiset, 31.8.1998
Source WWW
http://www.yle.fi/tvuutiset/
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Helsinki's metro connections were extended today to the east when traffic to the 25,000 residents of Vuosaari started early this morning. At the same time stations at Puotila and Rastila were also taken into use. President Martti Ahtisaari and Mrs Eeva Ahtisaari took part in the opening. Helsinki now has 16 stations and 21Km of metro lines.
Source YLE TV-uutiset, 31.8.1998
Source WWW
http://www.yle.fi/tvuutiset/
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Another accident happened on the Main Line on Friday (21.8) morning when a Pori-Helsinki InterCity train hit a drilling machine on the track south of Jokela. The machine - involved in level-crossing demoition work stalled its motor when crossing the railway. The machine was crushed and the locomotive damaged in the collision but no-one was injured. Trains were delayed by up to an hour because of the accident.
Source YLE TV-uutiset, 21.8.1998
Source WWW
http://www.yle.fi/tvuutiset/
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
The general plan for Rekola-Korso passing-loop and Tikkurila-Kerava "city railway" extension have been finalised. The railway administration centre (RHK) has sent its plans to Vantaa and Kerava councils and residents will be able to view the plans during August-September. The city railway extension is part of the plans to develop public transport in the capital region. The development includes building 1 extra track, improving stations and their surroundings to make them suitable for (bus) feeder traffic, as well as a new station at Urpia.
Thanks to the extra track local and long-distance traffic can be separated to their own tracks as is already in use between Helsinki and Tikkurila, local and long-distance services can be increased, possibilities for stopping express trains at Tikkurila and Kerava improve, and also the transfer to feeder-traffic system.
Source Ratahallintokeskus
Source WWW
http://www.rhk.fi/tiedote.htm
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Pendolinos from the Helsinki-Turku route are on test next week, and their departures will be substituted with InterCity and "blue" stock. The 2 Pendolinos will be tested on different routes with both units coupled together. The arrangement is part of the test programme written into the procurement agreement between Fiat Ferroviaria and VR. In this way the running of the units coupled-up can be tried in practice. The tests start on Monday and end on Sunday.
Source MTV3 Uutiset, 14.8.1998
Source WWW
http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/arkisto/9808/980813/9808130164.html
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
The " black box" of the locomotives involved in the Suonenjoki accident were examined on Thursday (13.8) and the drivers were also questioned. Both drivers claim to have been driving under green signals. The InterCity train was travelling at 44km/h and emergency brakes were applied 9 seconds before impact. The goods train was travelling at 21km/h and braking started 7 seconds before impact. According to the research committee the trains would have fallen down the 15 metre embankment into the adjoining lake if speeds were higher.
Source MTV3 Uutiset, 14.8.1998
Source WWW
http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Administration Minister Jouni Backman suggests VR's planned transport merger should be turned on its head. Backman says in an interview for Demari (the SDP supporting newspaper) that Posti should absorb VR's road tranport operations - not (as planned) the other way around. It would ease Posti's personnel situation.
VR and Posti published a letter of intent one month ago according to which Posti's goods and passenger traffic would be absorbed by VR's road operations. Under this change the 1200 Posti workers transferring to VR would suffer worsened job conditions.
Source YLE TV-Uutiset, 14.8.1998
Source WWW
http://www.yle.fi/tvuutiset/
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Local trains were full to bursting point during the Ankkarock music festival on Sunday (2.8). The scenes were like those from Tokyo's metro because not everyone could get onto or off from the trains at stations between Helsinki and Korso. VR had not realised how popular the event would be although extra capacity had already been put into use. Throughout Sunday trains had to be lengthened by transferring stock from the Coastal Route. Ankkarock causes a catastrofic rush every year but this year was worst of all. The attendance numbers surprised everybody, so especially VR.
Source Keski-Uusimaa lehti, 3.8.1998
Source WWW
http://www.keskiuusimaa.fi
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
According to VR Automatic Train Control (ATC) would have stopped the Suonenjoki accident from happening. VR's managing director Henri Kuitunen says the company is worried about recent accidents and near-misses. However behind them he does not see any common reason, but generally human mistakes. These will be avoided by improving equipment and educating personnel.
Installation of ATC was speeded-up following last spring's train accident in Jyväskylä in which 10 people died. ATC is planned to be ready by 2001.
Source YLE TV-uutiset, 12.8.1998
Source WWW
http://www.yle.fi/tvuutiset
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
A major accident was close to happening in Suonenjoki when a passenger train and a goods train collided just before 6.00 on Wednesday (12.8). About 40 passengers were on the Iisalmi-Helsinki Inter-City train, and nearly all of them were transported to the local health centre where 14 passengers received treatment for slight injuries, mainly facial cuts and bruises. The trains' drivers managed to jump clear after applying the emergency brakes. The passenger train had not had time to gain full-speed after leaving Suonenjoki station and neither was the goods train travelling fast which saved the collision from becoming a serious accident. The goods train's locomotive's No.2 end rose 9 metres into the air from the force of the collision and came to rest on top of the following 2 goods vans. Apart from the locomotives and part of one passenger van the trains remained on the tracks.
According to VR's representative the goods train was half hour late but was running under green signals. The reasons for the accident are already under investigation. The Savo route will be back in use tomorrow (13.8) once rail vehicles have been cleared from the tracks.
Source YLE TV-uutiset, 12.8.1998
Source WWW
http://www.yle.fi/tvuutiset
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
A lightning strike on an electricity feeder station stopped train traffic in the capital region today. Traffic was interrupted for about half an hour from 15.00. All tracks between Helsinki and Pasila were out of use and affected local and long-distance trains on both the "mainline" and "coastline" routes. VR started to clear-up the mess once the back-up system was put into use. Train traffic was expected to normalise after the evening rush-hour had passed.
Source MTV3, TV-Uutiset, 06.08.1998
Source WWW
http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Traffic between Tampere and Toijala is already working normally after a signalling cable fault at Viiala was repaired. Train traffic was halted around 6.30 and the fault was repaired around 9.45. VR has advised of only small delays due to the damage. The fault was caused when a tipper truck at a building site had cut the cable. Luckily the signalling fault did not cause any dangerous incidents on the tracks.
Source MTV3, TV-Uutiset, 31.07.1998
Source WWW
http://www.mtv3.fi
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
The first 6 new ticket automats have appeared and soon more will be taken into use. With the new "junamaatti" VR replaces the 10 year old version.The old automats’ biggest shortcoming was that the passenger could not choose the departure station, but it was automatically the station from which the ticket was bought. The second important improvement is that on the new machine it is possible to buy tickets in which transfers are more than one - now, up to three are possible. On the new automat the passenger can reserve a place in a family, pet, childrens or video car. Later, when their timetable information is connected it will be possible to buy bus tickets from the new automats. VR has invested over FIM 5million in the German made automats. By the end of the year 60 automats should be in use.
Source Helsingin Sanomat, 23.07.1998
Source WWW
http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Around 5000 train passengers’ travel was interrupted when a train was hijacked in Vantaa last night, and its reasons are still unclear. The Estonian hijacker of the local train from Helsinki was overpowered a little after midnight. No-one was injured in connection with the hi-jacking. The hijacking started around 21.00 when a man carrying a revolver-like airgun stopped the train with the emergency brake just north of Vantaa’s Heikkaharju station. About 100 passengers and crew were allowed to leave the train immediately the hijacking started. The hijacker barricaded himself inside the driver’s cab. After surrounding the train for 3 hours the police fired CS gas through the cab’s windows and overpowered the hijacker. When questioned Finland’s railway’s historical first train hijacker has not revealed any motives for his deeds. Train traffic returned to normal in the morning when the last of the delayed long-distance trains completed their journeys. At worst trains were delayed by 4 hours. Train security procedures will be tightened once last nights hijacking details become clear.
Source YLE TV-uutiset, 19.07.1998
Source WWW
http://www.yle.fi
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Two extra tracks have been made at VR’s Skölvik yard. Altogether there are now ten tracks. The Skölvik line leaves the mainline at Kerava between Helsinki and Riihimäki.
Last year Neste Oy built an unloading facility to handle 12 crude oil wagons, which has led to increased importations of about 1.6million tonnes. This year Neste has built a new 12 wagon unloading facility for handling crude and part-refined oil. This makes it possible to increase importations by about 1.5million tonnes (per year).
During last year Skölvik’s total transportation of crude and finished oil products amounted to over 3million tonnes, equal to around 58,000 wagon loads.
A new train handling office will be completed by November and the yard’s signalling and safety equipment will be renewed over the next two years.
Source VR Uutiset, 2.7.1998
Source WWW
http://www.vr.fi/uutta.htm
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
VR starts to operate with double-decker carriages. The first two double-decker InterCity carriages start operating between Helsinki and Vaasa on Thursday (2.7). One is a standard passenger car and the other a so-called service car which has been planned especially for use by children and the handicapped. VR has ordered 42 cars from Transtech's Rautaruukki in a deal worth FIM 500million.
Source YLE TV-uutiset, 30.6.1998
Source WWW
http://www.yle.fi
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Posti and VR plan to combine their road transportation. Transportation between post distribution centres and post offices will transfer to VR-Group's Transpoint. VR's Pohjolan Liikenne will for its part receive Posti's Gold Line bus traffic. The arrangement will effect about 1200 Posti employees. On combining these operations it is hoped to save tens of millions (of Finnish Markka).
Source YLE TV-uutiset, 22.6.1998
Source WWW
http://www.yle.fi
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Closed-circuit television surveillance on the city railway between Helsinki and Tikkurila will be switched-on from the beginning of June. With the help of the equipment it is hoped to prevent disturbances and damage as well as improve control and security of passengers. The cameras will cover station platforms and buildings and also parking areas.
Source Helsingin Sanomat, 20.5.1998
Source WWW
http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
Pro Rautatie Association does not believe seat belts are the solution for improving train safety. Pro Rautatie believe safety would improve most effectively if the tracks and safety equipment were maintained properly. The Association believes free movement and making us of restaurant facilities belongs to the nature of rail travel. Fitting seat belts and guidance for their use would give a completely the wrong image of unsafe trains. According to the Association seat belts are an wasteful investment because serious accidents happen so rarely. Also the likelihood that belts would be in use at the time of the accident is said to be small. Instead of seat belts the Association suggests improving trains’ luggage spaces, because baggage being hurled from overhead racks can cause injuries in (accident conditions, such as) emergency braking.
Pro Rautatie is a traffic policy pressure group formed of communes, commune associations and organisations whose goal is to promote and develop rail traffic in Finland.
Source Uutislehti-100, 15.5.1998
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host
In the spring, summer and autumn 1988 there is major building work on many railway lines. Finnish railway administration (RHK) builds lines Riihimäki-Tampere, Tampere-Seinäjoki, Tampere-Orivesi, Toijala-Turku, Riihimäki-Lahti, Mikkeli-Pieksämäki, Pieksämäki-Varkaus, Kokemäki-Pori, Karjaa-Hanko, Laurila-Rovaniemi, Pyhäsalmi-Iisalmi, Säkäniemi-Joensuu, Joensuu-Uimaharju and Inkeroinen-Juurikorpi.
Building works makes trains run slower and delays trains. Train connections will however mostly be honoured. In some cases there is buss connection instead.
Finnish railway administration (RHK) on the railway network on this year 1.4 billion Finnish marks, from which most goes to track renewals. About 700,000 concrete sleepers will be installed, which is more than ever. About 300 km of new rail and about 100 turn-outs will be installed. Also safety equipment will be renewed.
Source Ratahallintokeskus: Tiedotteet: Perusparannustyöt kohentavat ratojen kuntoa
Source WWW
http://www.rhk.fi/tiedote.htm
Reported by Kimmo Kotimäki
Sent from host computer
The biggest building work at Helsinki railway station, building of parking house "Eliel" has begun. Works is made in three phases and the first phase lasts until November 1998. The parking house should be ready on year 2000. In the first phase Station square will be digged near the station wall. Therefore the doors from station to the Station square will be closed until June. Start places of busses 13 and 21V will be moved to the north side of Finnair city terminal.
Source VR-uutisia: ELIELINAUKION PYSÄKÖINTILAITOKSEN TYÖT ALKAVAT
Source WWW
http://www.vr.fi/uutta.htm
Reported by Kimmo Kotimäki
Sent from host dystopia
Northern Finland's rail network's electrification would secure Transtech's Otanmäki factory's operations. According to VR's managing-director Henri Kuitunen, VR would need 10-20 new electric locomotives for the newly electrified lines, for which an option agreement has already been done with Transtech. In addition VR has an option for 100 Inter-City carriages. The safeguarding of the Otanmäki factory's operations was demanded by the Kainuu Alliance's delegation on their visit to Helsinki today.
Source YLE-TV news, 8.5.1998
Source WWW
http://www.yle.fi/cgi-bin/tvuutiset/shownews.cgi?1998/05/08/15
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host computer
Yesterday (7.5) afternoon a signalling control fault delayed trains at Tikkurila. The control equipment for turn-outs and signals in the station area failed a little before 13.00. The equipment was repaired in a couple of hours but trains were running late into the evening.
The fault caused most disruption to local trains - all I-trains (Helsinki-Tikkurila) were cancelled, R- and H-trains (Helsinki-Riihimäki) were combined to run as H-trains. Also some P-trains had to be cancelled. Reasons for the equipment failure have not yet been established.
Source Helsingin Sanomat, 8.5.1998
Source WWW
http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host computer
Trams may soon return to the Turku street scene from which they
disappeared in the early ‘70’s. Excited by the European tram boom Turku
has thought of having a museum line for a few years, and restored some
cars from the early 20th century. The 3 kilometre track from the harbour
to the centre would cost over FIM 13million. In addition to the museum
line the city would like to connect the centre with the suburbs on a
tramline. If Turku would like a line between the local town centres and
the suburbs then costs would be around FIM 800million. This investment is
however beneficial if the same calculation as used for motorways’
timesavings is used. The general plan currently under review is awaiting
the council’s blessing to include space for the new lines.
Source MTV3, 15.4.1998
Source WWW
http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/arkisto/9804/980415/9804150108.html
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host computer
According to the leader of the investigation, Kari Alppivuori, nearly all the deaths and injuries were caused by passengers being catapulted through the trains windows. He suggests this could be stopped effectively by fitting seatbelts. On the other hand, the train's carriages, seats and fittings withstood the 100km/h derailment very well, says the investigation board. VR plans to await the final report before giving its opinion on seatbelts. The final report is expected within a year.
Ten people died in the accident. It has already been confirmed as the cause of the accident that the driver mistook which route would be taken when approaching Jyväskylä station.
Source YLE, TVnews, 21.4.1998
Source WWW
http://www.yle.fi/cgi-bin/tvuutiset/shownews.cgi?1998/04/21/01
Reported by Keith Dawson <kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host computer
The Sibelius train travelling Helsinki-St. Petersburg will start trials of tax-free sales until the end of August. Passengers can buy tobacco and confectionery at the same prices as on international ferries. However tax-free alcoholic beverages are not on sale.
Source Uutislehti-100
Reported by Keith Dawson <kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host computer
A Communications Ministry workgroup suggests that rail goods traffic be opened to competition. Competing rail companies would also suit Helsinki’s local traffic and other local services. Long-distance traffic would be left in VR's care because it is feared that national services would be endangered if competition (to VR) appeared only on the profitable routes and departures.
In the workgroup's opinion freight traffic competition could entail all licence holders being given free choice of service provision on the national network. In the Helsinki region YTV (the regional coordination body) would put services out to bidders. Elsewhere the Communications Ministry and local or regional councils could arrange bidding competitions.
According to Matti Aura (Communications Minister) the changes in law will most likely be presented to parliament when it reconvenes (after summer) so that they could come into power from 2000. Before then many other matters such as division of rights to lines and stations needs to be decided.
The workgroup believes that competitors to VR will be found for freight and passenger traffic. A major move to new operators it does not however foresee, partly because of the high cost of equipment.
In freight traffic competition is expected for transport of train-load goods to a single customer. In Helsinki's regional traffic British-owned Swebus and French-owned Linjebuss are believed to be seriously interested. Both companies hold rail operators licences elsewhere in the EU and have railway equipment.
VR's MD, Henri Kuitunen wondered if there was a real basis for opening the Finnish rail network so widely to competition, when there is already an efficient arrangement. Within VR it is feared that the "cream will be taken from the top" leaving VR to raise prices or cut services on less profitable routes.
Source Uutislehti-100
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host computer
RHK plans to electrify northen Finland's rail network when the current electrification works are ready. In the first stage Tuomioja-Raahe, Oulu-Ronaniemi, Oulu-Iisalmi and Kontiomäki-Vartius routes would be electrified. Altogether, the 616Km works would cost FIM 670million. At the moment electrification of Kokemäki-Pori and Turku-Toijala are on-going and electric services start in Summer 1999 and Summer 2000 respectively. Northern Finland's works would start immediately afterwards in different places at the same time and would take 5-8 years depending on funding. RHK's electrification plans are based on a public cost-benefit analysis.
Approximately 70% of rail traffic is electrically hauled and 2197Km of track is electrified equal to 37% of total track length.
Source RHK, 15.4.1998
Source WWW
http://www.rhk.fi/ti980415.htm
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host computer
VR’s transit traffic has reduced dramatically in the last few months. If transit traffic does not soon pick-up noticeably this year’s tonnage will fall far short of last year’s figure. Transits collapsed in November-December and this year has started badly. "World oil prices are so low that Russia is not interested to sell petro-chemical products onto the world market. This shows in our deliveries" explains VR-concern’s managing-director, Henri Kuitunen. Petro-chemical deliveries have dropped by half. These products account for four-fifths of transits. In this way one can calculate that overall transit figures have contracted by 40per-cent. VR transported 4.3million tonnes of transit goods last year. The final months’ problems notwithstanding, transit traffic grew by 5%. VR does not publish turn-over figures for transit traffic.
VR’s chances to affect transit levels are almost non-existent. The fall in oil prices strengthens the Baltic countries which compete with Finland for transit traffic. "We have lost traffic to the Baltics. The division of transportation has formed whereby bulk goods go through the Baltics and more valuable goods by more northern routes (through Finland), Kuitunen says.
The loss of bulk goods to the Gulf of Finland’s southern-side is not a simple matter to VR. Bulk goods keep equipment usage high and if they fall then other profitability problems lay ahead. Even in 1994 6.2million tonnes of transit goods travelled through Finland.
Source Tekniikka & Talous, 9.4.1998
Source WWW
http://duuni.net/ttmain/tt.cgi?number=20244
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host computer
The building of the Helsinki-Leppävaara "city-railway" starts this month. The official opening ceremony was held at Pasila (Helsinki) on Friday (3.4). The 2 extra tracks should be ready in 2001, making possible a short-interval timetable and reorganisation of bus transport to provide feeder services. RHK (Rail Administration Centre), Helsinki and Espoo councils are responsible for planning, building and funding the railway in the amount of FIM 518million, FIM 144million and FIM 139million, respectively.
Source Ratahallintokeskus, 3.4.1998
Source WWW
http://www.rhk.fi
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host computer
Rautarukki-concern’s Transtech has received an order for 61 wagons from Sweden. Thanks to this order the 220 workers given redundancy notices at the Taivalkoski and Otanmäki factories can continue in work for a further half-year. It also gives Rautarukki more time to find a buyer for the Taivalkoski factory which is threatened by closure. The wagon deal also includes an option for 85 more wagons. If realised they would bring a further hälf-years reprieve to those awaiting redundancy.
Source MTV-3, 3.4.1998
Source WWW
http://www.mtv3.fi
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host computer
VR’s managing-director Henri Kuitunen suspects that opening-up the rail network to competition will in practice lead to higher prices and a weakening of services. Kuitunen bases his fears on the belief that VR’s probable competitors will "take the cream from the top" by operating on only the more profitable routes, forcing VR into considering what to do with its less viable operations. Most likely competition will at first affect company goods trains into which VR has invested heavily. Kuitunen reminded for example, that in England privatisation of rail traffic has not brought the hoped-for productivity improvements - private operators have run the rail services since 1995 on a franchise system and the results so far have been poor.
Source Uutislehti-100, 2.4.1998
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host computer
VR’s managing-director Henri Kuitunen is satisfied with current developments on the railways. In a rising market VR has been able to maintain its competitiveness in goods and passenger traffic. Travel between Helsinki and Turku grew by 17% last year. Kuitunen does not give all the credit to Pendolinos which take care of 8 out of the 24 daily departures, but believes speeding-up of travel times has had an effect on raising passenger numbers. Pendolino is without reservation a better investment than what has been said in public circles. Passengers see them as a good product - this has been apparent from market research. Kuitunen did not however agree to make comparison of the profitability of the Helsinki-Turku and Helsinki-Tampere routes as many passengers continue their journeys beyond Tampere - both however are regarded as VR’s strategic routes.
Source Kauppalehti
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host computer
VR’s profit for 1997 was FIM 419million after taxes. Turnover was FIM 6.2billion. The performance cannot be compared directly with the previous financial term which was for 18 months, when respective figures were FIM 465million and FIM 9.4billion. Goods traffic grew to a new record of 40.3million tonnes, which was a rise of 7%. Goods traffic produced FIM 2billion turnover, whereas turnover in the previous 18months was FIM 2.8billion. The largest increase was in forest industry products which account for about 50% of all goods traffic and 60% of domestic goods traffic.
Long-distance traffic 12million trips were made which was a rise of 5% with highest growth coming from trips between Helsinki and Turku where services have been increased, and in traffic between Finland and Russia. In the capital region the number if trips grew by 6%, although this was particularly affected by the running of short interval traffic patterns between Helsinki and Tikkurila throughout the year. Passenger traffic turnover was FIM 1.5billion, compared to FIM 2.2billion in the previous financial term.
The number of personnel reduced - as it has since the 1970’s, by 3% and was on average 16,950.
Source VR
Source WWW
http://www.vr.fi/uutta.htm#vrlink2
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host i74p96.pp.dlc.fi
In the future train passengers could get compensation for delays. According to the justice ministry’s suggestion compensation could be up to FIM 30,000 - however for small delays nothing would be paid. The train’s delay should also be unexpected, for example, bad weather or track works known by the passenger before travelling would effect payment of compensation. VR declined to comment on the plan. In 1996 13% of long-distance trains were late.
Source MTV3-uutiset
Source WWW
http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/arkisto/9803/980325/9803250115.html
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host i74p96.pp.dlc.fi
Lahti and surrounding communities have suggested that the Kerava-Lahti shortcut-line could be built with private finance. RHK’s (Rail Administration Centre) general plan was completed in February but money for the project is estimated to be available from the State only in the next century. The shortcut line is estimated to cost FIM 2billion. Lahti’s communities and "Fast Eastern Railways’s" advisory group have published a report according to which a project company - perhaps belonging to banks, insurance, building and power companies would build the line.
Source MTV3-uutiset
Source WWW
http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/arkisto/9803/980325/9803250196.html
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host i74p96.pp.dlc.fi
Accidents on the railway show no signs of ending. Today a truck-trailer combination drove through the boom of a level-crossing at the same time as an express approached just 100m away. The truck managed to get out of the way and a collision was averted. The near-miss happened at about 8.20 at Keuruu, on the line between Haapamäki and Jyväskylä. The level-crossing in question is furnished with warning lights and booms. According to police the truck was travelling too fast, slid downhill and broke through the boom. The truck driver inspected the damage but continued on his way. The man took the loaded lorry 36km to its destination where police met them. According to VR's signalling centre the train speed would have been at its maximum of 100km/h.
Source MTV3-uutiset
Source WWW
http://www.mtv3.fi/
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host wall.tellabs.fi
According to the accident investigation board the train's driver mistook which track the train would use to approach Jyväskylä station. No fault in the track or the train has been found nor were the track surface conditions abnormal. Also the signals worked and displayed as they should. The driving instructions in use were not misleading and nor has the driver's ability to control the train (through sudden illness) been suspected.
Most passenger trains drive into the station's platform 1 but since last summer the derailed express was being directed via the turn-out/switch into platform 3 which required a maximum speed of 35 km/h. However, the accident train entered the turn-out at 110 km/h. Now researchers will consider how a similar human mistake can be avoided.
Source YLE TV-uutiset
Source WWW
http://www.yle.fi/cgi-bin/tvuutiset/shownews.cgi?1998/03/17
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host i74p51.pp.dlc.fi
A passenger train and tipper-truck collided about 14.45, Monday (16.3) on an unguarded level-crossing at Visko between Lappohja and Hanko. Six passengers were slightly injured and the truck driver is in hospital care.
The train consisting of loco and 2 carriages carrying 31 passengers was on a trip from Karjaa to Hanko when the locomotive hit the truck. The truck was destroyed completely. Two of the locomotive's oil tanks began leaking but these were quickly plugged. The line was re-opened to goods traffic in the evening but passenger trains were replaced by buses until this morning.
Source VR-uutisia
Source WWW
http://www.vr.fi/uutta.htm
Reported by Keith Dawson
<kmdawson@dlc.fi>
Sent from host i74p51.pp.dlc.fi
Building of ATP will be speeded-up by one year. Council of State made today principal decision for taking additional appropriation to the next additional state budget. Reason for this is the railway accident on last Friday in Jyväskylä. According to the decision ATP should be ready on year 2001. According to RHK ATP speed-up is made on lines Kouvola-Pieksämäki, Lappeenranta-Joensuu, Tampere-Orivesi ja Toijala-Turku.
Council of State also appointed accident investigation board to investigate the course of events, reason of accident, and rescue operations.
To ivenstigate the reason for accident some brake test were made today. The accident train drove way too fast to the station and now is being investigated why this happened. In tests were found out that the speed of the train in the switch was 110 km/h.
Source MTV3 uutiset - Kulunvalvontajärjestelmän rakentamista nopeutetaan
Source WWW
http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/arkisto/9803/980312/9803120192.html
Reported by Kimmo Kotimäki
Sent from host piuha.lnet.lut.fi
Tue Mar 10 13:07:40 EET 1998
VR Cargo has cancelled a railway safety campaign. According to information which was got by Satankunnan Kansa cancellation was done because of railway accident on Friday in Jyväskylä. VR spokesman said campaign would only raise negative attentation. Campaing was planned to last whole March. It wuold be presented in radio and TV. The advertisements along the roads are collected away.
Source MTV3 uutiset - VR Cargo perui turvallisuuskampanjan
Source WWW http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/arkisto/9803/980310/9803100146.html
Reported by Kimmo Kotimäki
Sent from host piuha.lnet.lut.fi
The track repair work at Jyväskylä's station yard is now ready. Electricification work however will continue for couple of days. Until then trains will be 10-15 minuter late.
The financial director of VR Veikko Vaikkinen says the financial losses of the accident in rolling stock terms are FIM 30-40 million. In Jyväskylä seven carriages were damaged, from which perhaps five are worthy of repair. The locomotive was transfferred to VR Hyvinkää works for repairing and the carriages to its Turku works.
The reason for accident is still unkown.
The Communicatios Minister Matti Aura believes that there is political will of speed-up building of ATP (Automatic Train Protection). A decision should be made already on this week.
Source several, e. g. MTV3 uutiset - Jyväskylän onnettomuuden
syy yhä arvoitus
Source WWW http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/arkisto/9803/980308/9803080125.html
Reported by Kimmo Kotimäki
Sent from host piuha.lnet.lut.fi
Turku train ferry harbour will be ready in time, promises techical director
Matti Niemi of Turku Harbour.
- If we don't manage it otherwise, we will work 25 hours a day.
Niemi reminds that normally this kind of project takes one and a half
years, but harbour at Turku will be built in eigth months. The timetable
was first seen as unrealistic, but the weather in autumm and winter has
helped building work.
Niemi suspected until Friday, whether 45 switches ordered from Germany will be delivered on time. On Friday it become clear that there were no problems. Turku has reserved FIM 86 millions for building, but it seems now that the new harbour will cost FIM 80 million.
From June three train ferries will operate between Turku and Trävemünde near Lübeck. To Turku harbour comes five kilometres of Finnish gauge (1524 mm) and also five kilometrers of European gauge (1435 mm). At the harbour building a hall for bogie changing is underway.
Source Turun Sanomat Mar 6 1998
Source WWW http://www.turunsanomat.fi/
Reported by Kimmo Kotimäki
Sent from host piuha.lnet.lut.fi
The accident train began to brake slightly
about one kilometre before accident location and strongly 450 meters
before accident place. One kilometre before destruction the train's speed
was 137 km/h and 450 metres before 128 km/h. The exact speed at the moment
the train derailed will not be known before measurements at the accident
place, but accident investigator Kari Alppivuori says it was way too high.
The maximum allowed speed in the switch, where the train left the track is
35 km/h.
One reason for accident could be technical problems. Alcohol and attack of illness can be disgarded. In the locomotive was two engineers, both are said to were skilled trainman. At the moment of accident the assistant engineer was driving the train. He is said to be a qualified engineer. He died in the accident, but the another engineer survived. The engineers changed drive duties at Jämsä, about 60 kilometres before.
The accident investigator Kari Alppivuori says ATP (Automatic Ttrain Protection) would have prevended the accident. ATP should be installed at Jyväskylä in 2001. RHK will now investigate if installing of ATP could be speeded-up.
Source various, e.g. MTV3 uutiset - Onnettomuusjuna ajoi aivan
liian kovaa
Source WWW http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/arkisto/9803/980307/9803070109.html
See also
Reported by Kimmo Kotimäki
Today in Jyväskylä happened a
horrifying train accident, in which 10 persons died. Eigth passangers died
on the accident place, and one at the hospital. One train engineer also
died. On the locomotive were two engineers - the another survived. 47
passengers were injured. About 500 passengers were on the train.
Train P105 was on its way from Turku to Pieksämäki via Tampere. The train derailed just before Jyväskylä station at 13:50. The locomotive and seven carriages ended-up on their sides. Altogether the train consisted of 11 cars. The locomotive stopped about 50 metres away from the track on the nearby main road. The road has been closed until Saturday. The reason for the accident is said to be too high speed. At present ATP (Automatic Train Protection) is not installed on this line, but it should be ready in 2001.
Source various, e.g. MTV3 Uutiset- Jyväskylän
junaturmassa yksitoista kuollutta
Source WWW
http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/arkisto/9803/980306/9803060105.html
Reported by Kimmo Kotimäki
Sent from host piuha.lnet.lut.fi
Rautaruukki owned Transtech lays off all workers at its Taivalkoski factory. Negotiations into selling the factory have not brought any result. Rautaruukki says however that investigations into selling the factory as a going concern will continue with a number of interested parties. About one hundred workers will be made unemployed, which will lead to Taivalkoski municipality having the worst unemployment rate in Finland at over 40 percent. According to a Ministry of Trade and Industry report the Taivalkoski factory has no chances of profitable operation.
Transtech has already earlier announced that it will lay off 120 workers at its Otanmäki factory and 15 employees at its offices in Oulu. After all the notified lay-offs are taken into account Trastech has 350 employees remaining. VR has 42 IC carriages on order from Transtech for delivery in 1998-2000.
Source MTV3 Uutiset; Rautaruukki News
Source WWW
At 16.00 on Wednesday (25.2) a freight train derailed at Saunakallio near Järvenpää. The accident happened at slow-speed on a siding when nine wagons started to move by themselves while the locomotive was being run-round to the other end of the train. The wagons ran downhill with such force that two wagons went through the buffers of the siding and the first wagon laid so close to the main line that trains could not pass on one of the tracks. The derailment also cut cables to the signalling centre causing signals to show red to all trains and making signalling by hand necessary. The accident closed both tracks of the mainline, which were re-opened at 17.00 and 17.55 respectively. At worst trains were two hours late.
Source Helsingin Sanomat 26.2.1998, sivu B1
Reported by Kimmo Kotimäki
Sent from host piuha.lnet.lut.fi
Bad wheater delayed many trains on Saturday morning. Nigth train from Rovaniemi arriving in Helsinki 7:08 was two hours late. Two other trains from Rovaniemi were one hour late. Snowfall and hard wind delayed also other trains. Nigth trains from Helsinki to Rovaniemi were two hours late. Morning train from Kouvola to Helsinki was nearly one hour late.
Source MTV3 Uutiset
Source WWW http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/arkisto/9801/980131/9801310112.html
Reported by Kimmo Kotimäki
Sent from host 157.24.104.132
The plan has now been examined and returns from, amongst others, the environment impact study, public consultation and working-group have been taken into account.
RHK ("Rail Administration Centre") will now ask for statements from communes, commune federations, the Environmental Centre and the "Road Administration". The general plan is also on public display in some communes during 2-27 February. Additionally the plan will be presented at three public meetings, in which RHK and planning consultancy's representatives are resent.
Residents or community bodies in the affected communes' can present their own cases to their communes which must take these into consideration in drafting their own statements for delivery to RHK.
The short-cut line's final general plan started from the Communications Ministry's chosen line which in the main follows the Lahti motorway. Public meetings were held in March to June 1997. After this, further examinations of the plan were made.
Originally 40 houses would have disappeared under the line but now only 22. The savings lead partly from clarificiation of space demands. It has been possible to remove many unclear cases from the list of demolitions.
For the spur from the mainline at Tuomala in Tuusula, alternative plans using an underbridge and an overbridge have been made. Road arrangements and bridge heights have been revised in many places. Railway embankment heights have been reduced, notably at the Kerava River crossing. Noise containment measures have been introduced using earthworks and fences, mostly in the Järvenpää area.
The railway line is estimated to cost FIM 2billion. The possible fruition and building timescale are however unsolved. Lahti short-cut line brings extra capacity to eastern Finland's and Russian rail traffic and at the same time reduces traffic on the mainline making it possible to increase rail services on the section Riihimäki-Tampere. The procurement forms part of the EU's TEN traffic network as part of the so-called Nordic Triangle.
Source Helsingin sanomat 24.1.1998; RHK Tiedotteet
Source WWW http://www.rhk.fi/tiedote.htm
Reported by Keith Dawson
Sent from host 157.24.104.132
Electrification of the line from Tampere to Rauma is complete and regular electrically hauled traffic begins on Monday 12 January 1998. Next, electrification from Kokemäki to Pori should be ready in 1999 and Turku-Toijala in 2000. No decisions have been made on further electrification works beyond that, but RHK hopes work can continue as soon as the Turku-Toijala electrification is complete.
The length of electrification between Leilahti of Tampere and Rauma is 136 km. Work began in 1995. Manager for project was RHK and builders were Sähköradat Oy and Oy VR-Rata Ab.
Now there is 2192 kilometers of electrificied track in Finland, which is about 37% percent of total length. About 70% of traffic is handled by electric traction.
RHK has examined further electrification schemes and has found following lines to be economically and enviromentally profitable: Tuomioja-Raahe, Oulu-Rovaniemi, Oulu-Iisalmi, Kontiomäki-Vartius, Hyvinkää-Hanko, Joensuu-Uimaharju, Niirala-Säkäniemi, Joensuu-Siilinjärvi, Joensuu-Pieksämäki and Seinäjoki-Vaasa.
Source Ratahallintokeskus: Tiedotteet
Reported by Kimmo Kotimäki <kimmo.kotimaki ät lut.fi>
Sent from host 157.24.104.132
- We will discuss the matter on the following ministerial visit with Russia, says Erkki Hämäläinen, managing director of VR Ltd. He still doesn't want to say when or how many more more trains there would be. Between Helsinki and St. Petersburg there is currently two trains per day and one train running Helsinki-Moscow. Last year there were approximately 230000 passengers between Finland and Russia, from which about 55% were Russian and 30% Finnish citizens.
Father Frost (Pakkasukko) from Russia visited Santa Claus in Helsinki on 3 January. Around Epiphany there are about eigth special trains from Russia - all of which were full.
Source MTV3 uutiset - VR haluaa lisäjunia Venäjän
liikenteeseen
Source WWW http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/arkisto/9801/980103/9801030147.html
Reported by Kimmo Kotimäki <kimmo.kotimaki ät lut.fi>
Sent from host 157.24.104.132
Last year VR had an all-time record in passenger-kilometres. According to preliminary statistics, in 1997 VR collected 3 340 million passenger-kilometres, a rise of 2.6%. The rise in commuter traffic around Helsinki was 7% and in long-distance traffic 3%. Also, the number of passengers rose, with 50 million passengers 1997 was the best year since 1945, when VR had 61 million passengers.
Source Helsingin Sanomat Jan 2 1997, p. A5.
Source WWW
http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi
Reported by Kimmo Kotimäki
<kimmo.kotimaki ät lut.fi>
Sent from host 157.24.104.132
Note that I don't work for VR. Created Jan 1 1998 Kimmo Kotimäki.