Greens demand that Pisararata be included in next government programme

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The Green League demands that a decision on the planned new rail section in Helsinki called Pisararata (”droplet track”) will have to be made in the course of the next electoral term.
     
In a press release on Wednesday, Minister of Labour Anni Sinnemäki, who is the leader of the Greens, argues that without this project it will not be possible to increase the number of train frequencies for example between Helsinki and Seinäjoki or from Helsinki to Joensuu.
     
The idea of the planned new track section is that all commuter trains arriving in Helsinki (from Espoo and Kirkkonummi in the west, Vantaa and stations along the main line north, and the new Ring Rail Line to and from the Airport) would go underground, running in a tunnel from Pasila though Töölö to the centre, from where they would continue via Hakaniemi back to Pasila.
      The congested railway yard immediately north of Helsinki’s Central Railway Station would be used only by long-distance trains.
      In Green League Vice Chairman Mari Puoskari’s view, the planned track section would benefit the entire country, which is why the project financing should not be covered by the funds allocated to the public transport projects in the Greater Helsinki area.
     
The subject of Pisararata has been much in the air of late, with Finnish Railways (VR) suggesting that they will have to reduce schedules drastically in the winter months owing to the congestion in front of Helsinki's main station.
      Others have argued that the section would be of minimal value and that VR should instead invest in other track upgrades and improved technology.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Winter train delays continue – VR claims improvements over last year (5.1.2011)
  Finnish Railways CEO: Passengers will not benefit from competition on the rails (19.5.2010)

See also:
  Commuter trains continue to run reduced services, as commuters´ patience wears thin (23.2.2010)

Links:
  A map showing how the "droplet" would work in practice

Helsingin Sanomat