The implementation plan for the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tramway is complete – call for stakeholder opinions on the plan
The development phase of the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa alliance of the Tampere Tram has progressed as planned and the tramway implementation plan (in finnish) is now complete. Tampere Tramway Ltd, the City of Tampere and the Municipality of Pirkkala request statements on the implementation plan and its appendices between 16 September and 4 October 2024. The implementation plan includes provisions for the phased construction of the tramway.
”We have prepared an implementation plan for the decision-making of the Tampere and Pirkkala councils, presenting the content of the project and three different options for implementing the tramway. The plan prepares for phased construction, especially to ensure sufficient state aid for the entire route,” says Ville-Mikael Tuominen, Development Director at Tampere Tramway Ltd.
The tramway and the associated street, stop and traffic arrangements have been designed in their entirety from the Sorin aukio stop on Hatanpään valtatie to the municipal centre of Suuppa in Pirkkala and from the tram stop on the Kauppi campus to Linnainmaa.
”One of the three options in the implementation plan is that the entire Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tramway would be implemented at once. The second option is a phased implementation so that the tramway at the Pirkkala tramway junction ends in Partola and the Linnainmaa section is built in two phases. In the third alternative, the entire Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tramway would be built in two phases, first up to Partola and Niihama and in the second phase up to Suuppa and Linnainmaa,” says Sari Valjus, Project Manager at the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa Alliance of Tampere Tramway.
The project also includes the expansion of the Hervanta tram depot, the conversion of Itsenäisyysdenkatu switches into electric switches and the conversion of Hermiankatu to two-track tramway. The aim of these alterations is to prepare for the expansion of tram traffic. The cost estimate for the investment in tramway construction includes the costs of the alliance’s development phase and implementation phase as well as the client’s cost provisions.
The implementation plan also proposes the City of Tampere and the Municipality of Pirkkala’s related project packages that are reasonable and cost-effective to implement in connection with the construction of the tramway.
Options proposed for the implementation of the tramway
The Tampere Tram Pirkkala–Linnainmaa alliance has prepared the following options for the decision-making of Tampere and Pirkkala Councils:
Option A: The tramway will be implemented at once between Suuppa and Linnainmaa
The tramway would be implemented at once between 2024 and 2029 and it would be possible to start traffic in early 2029.
The cost estimate for the investment in tramway construction in option A is €345.4 million.
Option B: The project will be implemented in phases between Sorin aukio–Partola and Kauppi campus–Linnainmaa
In phase 1 (2024–2028), the tramway would be built up to Partola and Niihama. The aim is for traffic to Partola and Niihama to start in August 2028.
In phase 2 (2028–2032), only the Niihama–Linnainmaa section of the Linnainmaa tramway branch would be built, and traffic to Linnainmaa would be possible to start in 2031 August.
The cost estimate for the investment in tramway construction in option B is €285.9 million.
Option C: The project will be implemented in phases between Sorin aukio–Suuppa and Kauppi campus–Linnainmaa
In phase 1 (2024–2028), the tramway would be built between Sorin aukio up to Partola and from Kauppi campus to Niihama. The aim is for traffic to Partola and Niihama to start in August 2028.
In phase 2 (2028–2031), the tramway between Niihama–Linnainmaa and Partola–Suuppa sections would be built. Traffic to Suuppa and Linnainmaa would be possible to start in the beginning of 2032.
The cost estimate for the investment in tramway construction in option C is €357.5 million.
In options B and C, the depot expansion work and the conversion of the Itsenäisyydenkatu switches to electric would be carried out during phase 1. The conversion of Hermiankatu to two-track would be implemented in phase 2.
The circulation of the implementation plan for stakeholder comments begins on 16 September
Tampere Tramway Ltd, the City of Tampere and the Municipality of Pirkkala request statements on the implementation plan and its appendices between 16 September and 4 October 2024. Tampere Tramway Ltd will submit the request for comments to the key stakeholders and publish it on the Tampere Tramway website, where various parties have the opportunity to submit their opinions. The implementation plan is also available on the website of the Tampere Tramway Pirkkala–Linnainmaa alliance
”We want to gather the views of key stakeholders on the implementation plan for the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tramway and the impacts of the expansion of this tramway for decision-making purposes. In addition, we are enquiring about the wishes of various stakeholders regarding possible cooperation during the construction of the tramway,” Ville-Mikael Tuominen mentions.
The goal is that in October 2024 the alliance’s planning, i.e. its implementation plan, will be ready for the councils of Tampere and Pirkkala to use when deciding on beginning the building of the tramway, the scope of the building and the possible phases of building the rail. The aim is that construction will begin before the end of the year if the councils decide that construction work can begin.
In April 2023, the councils of Tampere and Pirkkala decided on the implementation planning of the tramway and that the decision on the construction of the tramway requires the assurance of state aid. The MAL agreement negotiations between the state and the sub-regions for land use, housing and traffic for 2024–2027 are in the final stages. In the proposed agreement, €55 million of state funding will be allocated to the planning of the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tramway and its possible first phase, Partola–Niihama, as well as €3 million to the planning and implementation of the underpasses connected to the project. In order to begin the construction of the possible second phase of the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tramway, the state aid for the extension section must be secured.
Information about the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tramway is available in several channels
Information on the planning of the tramway between Pirkkala and Linnainmaa can be found in many channels. In addition to Tampere Tram’s Pirkkala–Linnainmaa Alliance website, social media channels (Facebook, X, Instagram) provide information on the progress of the projects and plans as well as the coming public events.
In addition, Tampere Tramway Ltd shares information as the client on the implementation planning and construction of the tramway infrastructure in the Tampere Tram channels. The City of Tampere and the Municipality of Pirkkala will provide information about the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tramway project in their own channels.