The main railway studio, organised today by the main railway group, focused on improving the efficiency of Finland's transport policy. At the current level, the financial investments made in Finland's transport infrastructure are not sufficient when compared to the importance of the accessibility of Finland as a whole to Finland's national economy. The main line's catchment area generates the majority of Finland's GDP, which is why investments in improving the transmission capacity of the main line are impressive investments. Regional Director Esa Halme, Senior Expert in Transport and Economic Development Policy Päivi Wood and Senior Advisor Juhani Tervala call for Finland to have the courage to prioritise. The main line is a key investment target. The MPs interviewed along the main railway presented arguments for promoting the planning and investment of the main railway and its connections. Many projects are already underway, but with a very small budget and a slow schedule. In his video address, Minister of Transport Timo Harakka highlighted the importance of the main line. At the same time, he appealed to Liikenne12, which is currently underway, and to the development efforts it will enable in the coming years. MEP Henna Virkkunen highlighted the rise of the status of the main line on European transport networks. The Northern Core Network Corridor will also receive better access to EU funding. The main railway group has proposed Tampere, Oulu and Seinäjoki as hubs for the European core network. The group has also proposed that the EU's recovery funding should include targets that promote the development and accessibility of infrastructure in Finland's sustainable growth programme. Investing in sustainable transport supports the pan-European and national objectives for green growth, sustainable infrastructure and strengthening digitalisation. The development measures allocated to Finland's main railway line and its connections support the functioning of European transport networks and improve Finland's access to European Union CEF transport funding. Main track studio link: https://youtu.be/KT2s5Q_chRg More information: Chair of the main railway group, Provincial Director Esa Halme, esa.halme@pirkanmaa.fi, +358 40 500 3531, Vice Chair of the main railway group, Planning Director Jussi Rämet, jussi.ramet@pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi, +358 40 586 3877, Secretary of the main railway group, Advocacy Manager Jouni Koskela, jouni.koskela@pirkanmaa.fi, +358 50 527 2129, Liaison Director Jouko Ylipaavalniemi, +358 50 3272837, jouko.ylipaavalniemi@hame.fi. Finland's main railway group is a wide-ranging group that promotes the development of the main railway and its connections, focusing on national influence and European TEN-T core network work. The group consists of 11 counties, the largest cities and representatives of business and industry. Experts from the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency will be consulted.

The preliminary study on traffic connections at Oulu Airport has been completed. According to the study, the current Airport Road will be developed as an airport transport connection in cooperation with additional lanes. Public transport connections are strongly taken into account in the development of the Airport Road. New, faster bus routes will be presented in the first phase between the airport and Oulu Travel Centre and the centre of Kempele. Other additional routes should be considered in the directions of Linnamaa and Ritaharju, Hiukkavaara and Liminka. As a result of the assessment of the impact of the work, the booking of the new airport roads in the plans, which revolves around the centre of Oulunsalo, is no longer considered necessary and this booking will be abandoned. Similarly, no land use or traffic issues were found in favour of the development of the road connection between Tupos and Oulunsalo agglomeration/airport. The implementation of the rail link from Kaakkuri to the airport was considered to be so unrealistic that it cannot be regarded as a sensible transport connection to the airport. In the first phase of the airport's transport connections development project, a scenario analysis of the airport's transport connections was prepared in 2040. Based on the scenario study, the clear goal has been to ensure the accessibility of the airport by public transport, which is reliable and highly predictable in terms of travel time. Nine alternatives to the airport's transport connections have been identified in the study. All options have been assessed on the basis of the same criteria derived from the transport project assessment framework. Three options were selected for further consideration. These options, which were studied in more detail, were: A: Development of the existing Airport Route B: Southern bypass of Oulunsalo agglomeration, so-called Uusi Lentontie C: Kaakkuri terminal In early summer 2020, opinions on the project were requested from municipalities and transport stakeholders in the Oulu region. 20 referrals were sent and 13 opinions were received. The statements were in line in cooperation with the conclusions of the study. Some refinements were made to the impact assessment and conclusions. Read the final report of the pre-study here and the presentation slides here. The development of the airport's transport connections has been guided by a working group consisting of representatives of the Northern Ostrobothnia ELY Centre, the Regional Regional Assembly of Northern Ostrobothnia, the Oulu Region, Oulu Airport, the City of Oulu, the municipality of Kempele and the municipality of Liminka, as well as the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency. The transport consultant is Ramboll Finland Oy and the service consultant is Sweco Environment Oy. The Working Party approved the report at its meeting on 18 August 2020. The preliminary study has been carried out as an expert review of land use planning as a background study and as a basis for more detailed traffic arrangements plans. The analyses have been carried out on the general characteristics in cooperation with precision that serves land use planning, and the study serves as a basis for changes to the regional, general and city plans concerning the airport's connections. The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia, the City of Oulu and the municipality of Kempele are starting to draw up a road plan to improve the current Airport Road. The project will include: The road will be widened to a four-lane middle railroad The current railroad will be renewed and…