Lentorata
The Lentorata (airport railway) is a planned railway line in Finland, designed to link Helsinki Airport to the long-distance Finnish railway network and to complement the current airport connection via the Ring Rail Line.
Lentorata | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Locale | Helsinki Vantaa |
Termini | Pasila Kerava |
Technical | |
Line length | 30 km (19 mi) |
Number of tracks | Double track |
Track gauge | 1,524 mm (5 ft) |
Electrification | 25 kV @ 50 Hz |
History
The Lentorata has been included in the Finnish Transport Agency's plans since 2010.[1] Following the opening of the Ring Rail Line in 2015,[2] Helsinki Airport gained its first railway connection through the Helsinki commuter rail network. However, a need has also been identified for a rail link to long distance traffic, with support from Finavia, the mayors of Helsinki and Tampere and the chief executive of the state-owned national rail company VR Group.[3]
Route
The line is planned travel in a long tunnel under the airport and allow direct access from long-distance trains, as well as free the rail capacity taken up by long-distance traffic in the current main corridor (the Helsinki–Riihimäki railway) for the increasing local commuter traffic.[4] The line would then continue northward to Tampere as either an upgraded Riihimäki–Tampere railway or a brand new parallel line; and eastward to Kouvola using the planned new Itärata railway.
Cost
In 2019, Helsinki Times reported that, as part of a new rail connection with an expected travel time of one hour from Helsinki to Tampere via the airport, the project would cost a total of €5.5 billion.[5]
References
- "Lentoaseman kaukoliikennerata, Ratayhteysselvitys" (PDF). Finnish Transport Agency. 2010. p. 7. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- "Ring Rail Line trains will stop at all stations". HSL. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
- "Finavia backs rapid rail link between Helsinki Airport and Tampere". YLE Uutiset. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
- "Lentoaseman kaukoliikennerata, Ratayhteysselvitys" (PDF). Finnish Transport Agency. 2010. p. 7. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- "Finland earmarks funds for new rail links between Helsinki, Turku and Tampere". Helsinki Times. 4 February 2019.