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• protest in Haukivuori May 3rd 2014
• protest in Haukivuori May 10th 2014
• train schedule Haukivuori 2004-2014
• transport policy - Finland
• links to transport policy and VR strategy - Finland

protest against closing the stop in Haukivuori with the train to Mikkeli on May 10th 2014

Banner at the railway station

On Saturday May 10th 2014 over 150 people of  Haukivuori village have taken the train to Mikkeli to protest against the closing of the stop in Haukivuori.
VR arguments for closing are:
- a speed reduce of 3 minutes between Kouvola and Kuopio
- to keep the lights on is too expensive
- the platform is too low
- too less passengers are taking the train in Haukivuori
Of course all are very important arguments, but is the real reason not:
VR do not like stops and especial not stops in rural Finland, too complicated and to much service to all those who are living in the countryside.
VR officials need to read the article of Kris de Decker about high speed trains which are killing the European railway network.
PDF file High Speed Trains are Killing European Railway Network

The banner at the railway station will stay to remind that people in Haukivuori does not agree with VR policy.

Over 150 peoples were waiting for the train to Mikkeli.

This day the train was full of people from Haukivuori.

In Mikkeli the conductors confused and people were listening to the speakers.

The service of VR is perfect, ticket office is closed on Saturday and Sunday and buying a ticket at the machine takes so much time that not all were able to get one.

No ticket, means penalty of 5€. Extra income for VR.

Can VR change their strategy and try to get more people in the train by:
- increasing the number of trains
- increasing the stops at smaller stations
- increasing the schedule in the evening/morning
-offering special offers to daily users
that would be the start a new public railway.

Haukivuori Seutu published a video on YouTube about the train action to Mikkeli.

The Haukivuoren Aluejohtokunta has sent their objections to the governmental officials by the following letter:

The complete paper can be read in the attached PDF file HAUKIVUOREN ALUEJOHTOKUNNAN TIEDOTE 22.4.2014

The petition to support this letter has to be signed by all who are involved in the future of this village.
http://www.adressit.com/vastustamme_haukivuoren_junaliikenteen_lopettamista
On different places in the villages citizens were able to sign the petition, which was done by many persons in Haukivuori.

other related articles in the news papers:
http://www.lansi-savo.fi/mielipide/lukijoilta/lukijalta-vr-maksattaa-haukivuoren-ohiajon-kansalla-137114 by Petri P. Pentikäinen
http://www.lansi-savo.fi/mielipide/lukijoilta/lukijalta-aika-k%C3%A4yd%C3%A4-taistoon-l%C3%A4hijunan-puolesta-137113 by Sakari Kestinen
http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/a1398306082255 by Katja Boxberg

An interesting link to an article "how high speed trains are killing the European railway network" is an eye-opener and interesting for those decision makers who have to take in account that speed is not the main element in public transport.

The change to 'market, privatization and cost effective' economy is another item and this has closed the mind of policy makers for the dismantling of a cohesive and engaged Finnish society. Public services are the victims of this non-social behavior.

In the press release "Finland’s transport policy lines for the future set out" of 12.4.2014 the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications informed about the planned strategy for transport.

"Investments to be made - rail transport in focus

Focus of transport funding will be shifted from new investment to maintenance of the existing transport network. Smooth everyday mobility of people is particularly important. At its discussion on spending limits on 22 March 2012, the Government agreed which transport investment projects are to be launched during this term of office. It made a historic decision in allocating more funding to rail projects than to roads. In an effort to improve punctuality of trains, ground frost damage will be repaired on all sections of the rail network, and the capacity of the main rail line will be raised in the south of Finland. These measures will have a positive impact on the punctuality of train services in all parts of the country. "

PDF file with the press release of 12.4.2012

In 2014 it seems VR is focusing on 'punctuality' as they are planning to close some small stops to win 3 minutes on a journey of 1.43 at the line Kouvola-Pieksämäki. In VR-leaks is written that the whole suggestion of more efficiency is fake.

PDF file with the VR-leaks report

The result of this immense deduction of the journey has more impact on the development of rural regions as any official behind their desk can imagine. Focusing on high speed and as less stops as possible will finally kill this transport.
One of the tasks of public transport is to connect different places with each other and to guarantee that people in even isolated regions are able to have a social life. As the national government is concentrating public services in cities and reducing the services in small villages public transport is often the only way to be able to use these services.

It would show the involvement of the regional and national government when an innovative vision on this matter would be developed.
Is it is not possible to invest in a commuter train along the closed railway stations?
Is it not possible to use the track in different ways than it is traditional?
Closing the last stops along a long distance line is the end of the national policy of living rural communities.

An interesting article by Kris de Decker in LOW-TECH MAGAZINE about the way how high speed trains are killing the European railway network.
PDF file with the article HIGH SPEED TRAINS ARE KILLING THE EUROPEAN RAILWAY NETWORK

"Yield-management pricing style

Not only Italian rail operators, but for example also Finnish rail operators have introduced these pricing mechanisms. It indeed increased the income of the train company, but of course at the expense of the customers. The promotional fares induce demand, while regular passengers see their costs increased. It is a pricing system that does not belong in public transportation.

By the way, even without yield management high speed trains would have considerably higher ticket fares than low speed trains (because building and operational costs are higher)"

Kris De Decker

"Airlines and cars compete with trains, but the railways themselves have decided to kill their own products. They could as well have decided to invest the money in lower fares and more comfortable trains -- so that people could sleep better -- instead of in building a whole new high speed rail network. Just imagine how the low speed network would look if it would have received all the money that is being invested in high speed rail."

Kris De Decker

Old map the Finnish railway in 1905 concerning.