SCALE-UP initiates regional rail network in Southwest Finland
One of the objectives of the SCALE-UP project lies in creating a regional public transport organization model for the region of Southwest Finland and promoting the development of regional train traffic in the area. The regional plan for Southwest Finland and the traffic vision of the transport system plan 2040+ present the potential network for the regional rail traffic with up to 25 potential stations. The measure is developed by task leader and consortium partner Regional Council of Southwest Finland and Valonia.
To kick off the co-operation and planning process with the trackside municipalities, the Regional Council invited the leading officials from the thirteen municipalities within the proposed rail network to discuss the measures to be taken when working towards the regional train traffic. Also, representatives from the Center for Economic Development, Transport and Environment of Southwest Finland, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency and Traficom – Finnish Transport and Communication Agency participated. The workshop was held in Turku on the 24th of November 2021.
The next step in the process is thorough research about real costs, allocation, as well as options for organizational models. Several societal changes need to be taken into account, which can all affect the future demands and prospects of a rail network:
Organizational changes;
Evolution of the age structure in the region;
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic;
Electrification & automation of traffic.
The development of the rail transport is a major strategic issue with many different aspects to be considered. The workshop participants emphasized the importance of identifying different levels of interests:
At regional level, the municipalities have shared interests and for example land use, transport and service networks should be planned in close cooperation with other municipalities.
At municipal level the starting points, challenges and interests and the attitudes of the residents and companies vary, which needs be taken in to account.
Also, stakeholder mapping is essential at the early stages of the process to identify, which groups need to be involved and in which stage – in addition to the interests of municipalities as organizations, it is important to identify the interests of other actors such as companies and residents:
What is the willingness of the residents to use a regional train?
What are the benefits of local train transport for businesses?
Thus, it is also essential to pay attention to the communication – how to give different user groups a chance to participate in the process and how to make sure the process is communicated clearly and openly.
It is clear there are still a lot of multi-level governance challenges to be solved, but with the resources of the SCALE-UP project the Regional Council and Valonia – working closely with the municipalities – will be taking the next steps towards the goal during 2022, as the process of conducting background research starts and the promotion of regional co-operation continues.