The team spirit of the West Railway project was reflected in the railway design of the Espoo–Salo railway line
The design of the direct line between Espoo and Salo, which is part of the West Railway project, showed the team spirit of different consulting firms. The environmental impact assessment was comprehensive, and property-specific solutions that are rare in Finland were evaluated in noise abatement.
When the West Railway project is realised, a new high-speed train connection will be established between Helsinki and Turku. At the turn of the year 2023–2024, the track design of the direct line between Espoo and Salo was completed in cooperation with four consulting houses. There were three consultants in the general planning phase, and Sweco joined the railway planning phase for the section between Espoo and Kirkkonummi.
“We were very well received, and the project managers worked together very well,” says Max Lagerström, Project Manager at Sweco. Team spirit between nearly a hundred designers began already in the big rooms during the development phase. “The planning stayed on schedule despite the huge size of the organization.”
The track design of the approximately 17.3-kilometre-long section belonging to Sweco included all fields of technology, except for the design of railway electrical and safety equipment carried out in parallel as a separate commission. An important aspect was the utilisation of land masses, because a lot of surplus land is created. The aim is to use land that can be utilised in the railway and road structures of the area, which reduces transport and reduces the carbon footprint and other environmental impacts.
Environmental impact assessment takes nature and people into account
Cooperation in the environmental impact assessment was seamless and active between the various consultants. Methods and reporting were agreed together and negotiations were held with the authorities.
“Together, we also created templates for permit applications to ensure the quality of permit applications and the smoothest possible processing of permit applications,” says Emmi Laukkanen, Environmental Specialist at Sweco.
The materials were also prepared in cooperation by utilising the best expertise of each consulting house. “For example, our environmental lawyer Sari Lajunen has extensive experience in project administrative procedures and environmental permit and exemption applications under the Nature Conservation and Water Act,” Laukkanen adds.
The environmental impact assessment took into account the effects of the possible new railway line on nature and the environment as well as on people’s comfort and health. According to Laukkanen, the railway would run mainly in a sparsely populated area and partly alongside Turunväylä in the same terrain corridor. Residential and leisure buildings will also remain in the catchment area of the railway. “Construction always has impacts, and it’s our job to try to reduce them proactively.”
The environmental impact assessment included, among other things, field visits, carbon footprint calculations and ecological connection assessments. Ecological connections will be implemented from above tunnels and under high railway bridges. “One of the greatest successes is that the project’s cost estimate includes a new game bridge and possible crossing points for flying squirrels,” Laukkanen says.
Compliance with the EU taxonomy was not yet assessed at this stage of the project, but according to Laukkanen, the studies already carried out, carbon calculations and climate risk assessment support it.
Vernacular and visual project communication
In Finland, railway projects of such magnitude are rarely planned for a new rail corridor, which is why interaction with various stakeholders was extensive already at the planning stage. Sweco, Ramboll, Sitowise and Afry joined forces in project communications.
“We were responsible for the interaction of the project in a cooperative spirit without strict organisational boundaries,” says Jatta Tuomikoski, Project Communications Specialist at Sweco.
Project communications produced a digital report in which the most important parts of the railway plan are explained openly in vernacular. “We aim to facilitate access to information and present railway plans in a visual and mobile-friendly way,” says Terhi Koskinen from Sweco. For example, interactive maps are included that clarify landscape and noise effects, among other things.
Property-specific noise abatement is new in Finland
Common parameters were used in noise modelling for all lines to ensure comparable results. “In addition to traditional noise barriers, it is possible to use property-specific noise abatement methods on the railway section, which gave us valuable lessons from Sweco’s acoustics experts in Sweden,” says Sweco’s Environmental Specialist Tuomo Pynnönen.
He thinks it is important to listen to residents in managing noise effects. In addition to public events, experts visited the properties on site. While one expert studied structures, the other focused on answering people’s questions. “Even though residents are used to the noise of Turunväylä, the railway changes the familiar soundscape of many homes.”
Based on on-site measurements and the condition of various building elements, experts recommended a wide range of measures. Noise can be combated, for example, by replacing windows and doors and by improving sound insulation in some places with additional layers of wall structures, such as panels and balcony glazing. The project bears all costs.
Property-specific noise abatement measures expand the range of options used to mitigate noise nuisance, in addition to noise barriers and noise barriers. According to Pynnönen, the project will also focus on noise abatement during the construction site and informing residents. “It’s usually easier to deal with noise when you know what’s causing it.”
Next, Sweco’s role will continue in the West Railway project in the planning of the Espoo–Turku railway (Hajala–Kupittaa), the Salo–Turku double track and the Turku railway yard area, among other things. Railway planning has received EU financial support from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).