The Finnish rail operator VR has intensified the guarding and supervision of the commuter trains in the Greater Helsinki area. Guards now board the so-called Z-trains also in the evenings and at weekends.
The move was reported by the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE’s provincial radio station Ylen aikainen on Wednesday.
"The emphasis is on the local commuter trains", says VR security inspector Teemu Väänänen.
The aim of the intensified security measures is to intervene over troublemaking, drinking, smoking, and travelling without a valid ticket. The Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council (YTV) will provide the trains with ticket inspectors.
The monitoring of security at Helsinki's central railway station will also be improved as a joint effort by VR and the police.
Some technical solutions are also in the offing and VR will increase the number of its surveillance staff to a certain extent, but the primary response is to concentrate the guarding efforts in problem areas.
"We’ll provide plasters and pain relief where it hurts most", Väänänen reports.
The "squaring of shoulders" with respect to safety and orderliness on local trains in the capital area commenced just over a year ago, when safety patrols were first introduced on trains. The campaign was implemented in cooperation with Helsinki City Transport (HKL) and YTV.
According to Väänänen, the experiences and feedback from the public have been very positive.
"The measures will continue", he promises.
