Plans outlined for moving Helsinki’s long-distance train traffic into tunnel under airport

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A working group headed by the Finnish Rail Administration (RHK) is outlining the moving of Helsinki’s long-distance train traffic into a tunnel track via the Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport.
      If the so-far speculative plan materialises, this means that the new Viinikkala station on the Ring Rail Line will become the interchange station. A new air terminal will also be erected there to accompany the present main terminal.
     
The long-distance train traffic is meant to be connected back to the old rail network in Kerava. It is also possible that the planned new Heli Track will be directed eastwards from the tunnel track to Sipoo’s Nikkilä and via Kulloo on to Porvoo, Kotka, and through Hamina to Luumäki.
      The old Heli Track routing has been viewed as problematic as it penetrates through the Fazerila ground water area.
      RKH has also devised the so-called Droplet Track plan, according to which the city trains would not travel from Pasila directly to the Helsinki main railway station, but would form a droplet-shaped loop under the downtown area leading into the city centre via Töölö in the west and Hakaniemi in the East.
     
”There is no room for further tracks or trains at the main station railway yard. Therefore, for example the coming Ring Rail Line’s trains could use the Droplet Track to enter Southern Helsinki. Likewise, trains from the Espoo City Track could after the Droplet loop continue from Pasila onto the Kerava City Track”, suggests RKH senior engineer Markku Pyy.
     
The Helsinki-Airport-Kerava connection has been elevated as the best alternative in a proposal by the committee working on the idea of a Helsinki-St. Petersburg rail connection. A finished report is meant to be handed to the Minister of Transport Anu Vehviläinen (Centre) during the course of this autumn.
      In the opinions requested after last spring’s preliminary account, commuter rail traffic was also called for between Helsinki and Porvoo.
      In Markku Pyy’s view the realisation of the plans is an altogether different matter. Juhani Tervala, Director-General of Transport Policy Department at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, agrees: “The Ring Rail Line will be in next year’s budget, and then there are preparatory decisions regarding the Western Metro. Work is under way also on the Helsinki-Oulu track, but other than that the government’s resources go pretty much to the upkeep of old rail routes.”
      It is likely that after the completion of the Ring Rail Line, work on the extension westwards of the Leppävaara City Track may start quite quickly.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  New Ring Rail Line to connect Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to centre of Helsinki (15.2.2008)

Links:
  Ring Rail Line
  The Finnish Rail Administration (RHK)

Helsingin Sanomat