We will postpone the procurement of new commuter train rolling stock. Our Executive Board was to decide on the launch of the tender this autumn.
The coronavirus pandemic has increased remote working, which has reduced the use of commuter trains. At the moment, it is difficult to predict how passengers numbers will develop in the long term. Consequently, we are currently unable to reliably estimate how many trains should be purchased and when.
“We will be able to estimate with sufficient precision the need for trains and the timeframe for the procurement once the changes to people’s travel patterns caused by the pandemic have evened out,” says Director of Department Tero Anttila.
If train ridership increases faster than expected, we will be able to accommodate this up to a certain point even without purchasing new rolling stock.
“A major overhaul of the first generation of Sm5 trains is expected to start sometime in mid-2020s. It is possible to add extra seats on the trains as part of the overhaul,” says Anttila. “Other means to accommodate increased passenger numbers include, for example, more effective use of trains and improving the flow of rail traffic. We are looking at measures we can take together with the rolling stock company Pääkaupunkiseudun Junakalusto Oy.”
Work to develop a depot solution continues
In order to commence the procurement process, we need to know where the first maintenance depot for the new trains will be located and when it will be built.
In the MAL2019 Agreement, HSL, Helsinki region municipalities and the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency agreed that we will together determine the implementation schedule for the construction of new commuter train depots as well as their location.
No decisions have yet been made but we continue our work to develop a solution together with Pääkaupunkiseudun Junakalasto Oy.
Pääkaupunkiseudun Junakalusto Oy has been selected to implement the depot project and it is in charge of developing the solution.