Railway workers' protest strike causes no major traffic jams in Greater Helsinki area

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Contrary to expectations, the industrial action by the Railway Workers' Union and the Railway Salaried Staff Union that began at 3:00 a.m. today - Monday - has not caused any major congestion on the roads in the Greater Helsinki area.
      Some buses were somewhat delayed in the morning, but thanks to additional bus frequencies, commuters got to work at the usual time.
      In the morning, traffic in downtown Helsinki was even more tranquil than nomal. Even on the main arteries leading to the capital traffic went smoothly, while police were not notified of any accidents.
     
The Finnish Road Administration estimates that motorists have been able to anticipate the changed circumstances.
      At one point, a long tailback was generated on Road 4 towards Helsinki right after the intersection of Porvoonväylä, the urban motorway leading into the capital from the east. However, according to the traffic duty officer, it was a perfectly normal occurrence.
      Moreover, fewer cars than usual were seen on the Inner Ring Road (Kehä I) in the morning, a journalist from Helsingin Sanomat reported.
     
Bus companies were prepared to run more services both in the morning and in the afternoon. However, the number of additional frequencies needed was fewer than expected.
      In order to avoid congestion, not all buses will drive to their normal end-stops, namely the Kamppi terminal or the central railway station. The additional buses will leave their passengers at exceptional bus-stops in Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu or Eteläinen Rautatiekatu, which is why motorists are advised to avoid these streets.
      In the afternoon, the extra buses will also leave from these exceptional bus-stops.
     
For the most part, the information about the one-day strike by railway workers was received well, but one passenger was seen waiting in vain for a train in the railway station of Järvenpää in the morning.
      In Helsinki, there were some dozens of people to whom the strike came as a surprise.
      For example Tomi Winberg was looking for a substitute ride to Espoo’s district of Leppävaara.
      ”I did not listen to the news at the weekend as I was repairing my boat”, Winberg said.
      Guidance had been organised by the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council in Kerava, where the guides informed commuters of the extra arrangements.
     
A one-day strike by railway workers has brought all rail services in Finland to a halt today - Monday. The protest is affecting the travelling of some 200,000 people, of whom most are commuters in the Greater Helsinki area.
      The strike was called to protest the state’s corporate ownership policies.
      Helsingin Sanomat is following the situation in the course of the day.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Protest strike to stop rail traffic on Monday (12.6.2009)
  Finnish rail transport threatened by 24-hour strike (11.6.2009)

Links:
  VR, Finnish Railways
  Finnish Road Administration

Helsingin Sanomat