Tampere Board Considers €1.7M Annual Bill to Add Weekend M-line Service
Tampere's city board will discuss a draft to extend weekend M-line commuter services from 1 January 2031, which would add about €1.7 million in annual costs shared between neighbouring municipalities.
A draft shows expanding weekend M-line commuter services would saddle local municipalities with roughly €1.7 million in extra annual costs, according to Tamperelainen. The city board will discuss the agreement at its Monday meeting.
The proposal comes as the national transport regulator set a September deadline for regions to commit to buying the trainsets needed for planned 2031 commuter services Traficom's September deadline. Earlier estimates also flagged Ylöjärvi town centre as one of the most expensive proposed stops, highlighting why stop locations and construction costs are under scrutiny previous cost estimates for Ylöjärvi.
The memorandum proposes keeping the current M commuter service on the Nokia–Tampere–Lempäälä–Akaa corridor and extending timetables to weekends from 1 January 2031. New stops are planned at Epilä and Sääksjärvi. Trains could reach Harjuniitty once a second track is added between Lielahti and Tesoma. Under the proposed cost-sharing model, Nokia and Tampere would cover about €900,000 a year, Lempäälä €300,000 and Akaa €500,000; a formal joint funding agreement would follow.
Tampere is preparing a separate draft with Ylöjärvi, Kangasala and Orivesi for Ylöjärvi–Orivesi services. Building the Ylöjärvi stop would require removing a timber terminal and could create scheduling risks. The city has expressed interest in developing commuter traffic on the Tampere–Turku route as well. The board's draft agreement is a preparatory measure and does not yet bind municipalities to final decisions.
Earlier coverage
Catch the full story over at Tamperelainen
