Passenger Trains Return to Rauma After Nearly 40 Years
Uutinen
Passenger rail services will return to the Rauma railway line next May after an almost 40-year break. Six daily departures are planned, with timetables designed especially for commuters and students travelling between Rauma, Tampere and beyond. Article originally published in Rauma-magazine.
Text: Janne Rantanen
Photos: Elmeri Elo
For many residents, the return of passenger trains is welcome news.
Enni Vaikkinen and Leevi Salmela, who began their music pedagogy studies at the University of Jyväskylä this autumn, were delighted to hear that passenger trains will soon be back in Rauma.
“A car is expensive and buses are slow. Travelling by train will be faster, more comfortable and hopefully more affordable as well,” says Salmela.
The young couple expects to use the service frequently.
“It’s always nice to come back to Rauma. We have family and friends here, and I also perform music gigs in the region from time to time.”
For Anna Meronen, who started as Director of the Postal Museum this autumn, the new rail connection played a role in an important career decision.
“Without the news about the trains, I might not have applied for the position at all. Moving permanently to Tampere would have been a much bigger step. Now we can continue living in Rauma.”
At the moment Meronen commutes by car, bus or train via Kokemäki. Once direct rail services begin, the train is likely to become her preferred option.
“It will make a big difference when I can answer emails and work during the journey. The schedules seem to suit my working days very well.”
Better connections for work and leisure
Janne Wikström has long preferred travelling by train whenever possible on work trips to Helsinki. At present, he drives to Turku and continues his journey to Helsinki by train. In the future, he will be able to board a train directly in Rauma.
“Travel times may stay roughly the same, but comfort and safety will improve.”
He also sees opportunities for tourism.
“Visitors travelling to Finland will soon be able to reach Rauma directly by train from the capital region and discover our UNESCO World Heritage sites. That’s something worth highlighting.”
For Maija Männistö, who has commuted from Rauma to Helsinki for the past four years, the new connection could significantly improve travel comfort.
“I don’t own a car, so I’ve spent many hours on buses. I’m definitely interested in using the train. How often will depend on schedules and ticket prices.”
She is equally enthusiastic about easier access to Tampere, where part of her family lives.
A boost for travel and tourism
Tarja Niinisalo first fell in love with Rauma while studying here. Although work later took her to Helsinki, her connection to the city has remained strong.
“I will stop using buses altogether. On the train I can work, move around and travel more comfortably. It will also make travelling much easier for my children.”
Mikael Eklöf, who works for the City of Helsinki but continues to live in Rauma, currently drives to the capital once or twice a week.
“I’m really looking forward to the train because I’ll be able to work during the journey. In my current expert role, much of my work can be done on a laptop.”
Eklöf believes the new service could have major tourism potential.
“Many people in Helsinki don’t own a car, and holiday destinations are often chosen based on whether they can be reached by train. Rauma has enormous potential here.”
A new stop in the city centre
The historic Rauma railway station will not return to passenger use. Instead, a new passenger stop has been built close to the city centre, behind Prisma shopping centre.
Because Rauma is the end station on the line, a traditional station building is not considered necessary. Trains will typically wait at the new stop before departure, and nearby services include shops, cafés and restaurants.
By train to hockey games or to the theatre
Tampere is often referred to as Finland’s ice hockey capital. Strong SM-liiga favourites Tappara and Ilves play their home games at the impressive Nokia Arena, and Rauma’s own Lukko visits both teams at least twice each season.
From next spring onwards, travelling from Rauma to these games will be easy by train. The journey takes well under two hours, and Nokia Arena is only a ten-minute walk from Tampere railway station.
Tampere also offers a wide range of cultural experiences. The Tampere Theatre, Tampere Workers’ Theatre, Tampere Comedy Theatre and concerts at Tampere Hall are all within a 10 to 20-minute walk from the station.
Weeknight hockey matches and many theatre musicals typically end around 9 p.m. Even after an evening event, it will be possible to return to Rauma the same night, although arrival will be after midnight.
What about Eura and Eurajoki?
When passenger trains last operated on the Rauma line in the 1980s, they also stopped in Eurajoki and Panelia, in the municipality of Eura. The aim is to reintroduce these stops in the future. New stations are currently being planned in cooperation with the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency.
“A wide range of transport options is one of the cornerstones of a modern municipality’s development. Passenger rail services to Tampere would create new opportunities for labour mobility while allowing people to continue living here even if they work, for example, in Tampere. The matter will proceed to decision-making once the necessary background information has been gathered,” says Vesa Lakaniemi, Municipal Manager of Eurajoki.
“Having the train stop in Eura as well would be an excellent development for both residents and businesses in the area. Hopefully the plans will progress to make this possible. In the end, decisions will depend on comprehensive impact assessments in relation to the costs of building a station and any operational expenses associated with the service,” says Kari Kankaanranta, Municipal Manager of Eura.
