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Construction of Tampere light rail project to begin following implementation agreement

Posted: 30 November 2016 | Katie Sadler, Intelligent Transport | No comments yet

An implementation agreement has been signed allowing construction of the Tampere light rail project to commence in the first half of 2017.

Construction of Tampere light rail project to begin following implementation agreement

Credit: YIT

An implementation agreement has been signed allowing construction of the Tampere light rail project to commence in the first half of 2017.

Construction of Tampere light rail project to begin following implementation agreement

Credit: YIT

VR Track, Pöyry and YIT signed the agreement with the City of Tampere for the implementation of the Tampere light rail project, Finland. The revised cost estimate for the implementation stage is €238.8 million.

Cost of Tampere light rail project at implementation stage is €238.8m

Commenting on the signing, Harri Lukkarinen, Managing Director of VR Track said, “Alliance partners’ close cooperation and commitment to high objectives of the project from the very beginning have made it possible to implement the tramway. Construction of tramway will be visible in the streets of Tampere, but the implementation plan drawn up together in the development phase and a strongly connected Alliance team will create excellent conditions for the smooth implementation of the project.”

Work on the first phase of construction will begin in the first half of 2017. During this stage, a new rail line will extend 15 kilometres from the city centre to Hervanta and the Central Hospital. In addition a depot will be constructed in Hervanta. The first phase is expected to be complete by 2021.

According to the plans, the second phase of construction will take place in 2021–2024. It will expand the rail network from the city centre to Lentävänniemi.

The project will be implemented using the alliance model, with VR Track, Pöyry and YIT providing the service ordered by the City of Tampere. In the alliance model, the client, designers and contractors co-operate throughout the implementation.

“The representatives of Tampere, engineers and contractors of the light rail project have worked hard together for over a year to find the best solutions for the project. The implementation decision will realise this work for the benefit of Tampere, resulting in a smooth implementation of the project and a high quality light rail system. We at Pöyry are proud to support the strong development of the Tampere region,” confirms Mikko Inkala, President of Pöyry’s Infrastructure Design Unit.

“YIT’s revised strategy emphasises project development in growth centres and focuses increasingly on the involvement of partners. The collaborative alliance model adopted in the Tampere light rail project matches this objective very well. The project is significant in terms of size. It also plays an essential role in the development of the Tampere region, in which YIT wants to be closely involved,” adds Jouni Forsman, Head of YIT’s Infra Services business division.

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