NORTHERN DIMENSION OF RAIL BALTICA

Abstract

Transport markets have confronted various changes during the previous decades. As branch positive issue is that volumes have increased steadily, but on the other hand, for society this has placed great pressure to reduce environmental emissions and other costs (like infrastructure and its maintenance). In the near future strict emission regulations will change nature of transport, and this will mostly influence sea and road transport. However, rail transport (along with inland water transport) has been highlighted as an option to facilitate the situation. Main objective of this research was to unfold Finnish and Estonian private sectors’ viewpoints towards Rail Baltica transport corridor, which is planned to intersect the Eastern Baltic Sea Region. In order to understand the overall standpoints in Northern part of Rail Baltica, the development process of Russian railway market was briefly examined. Based on the results Rail Baltica transport corridor is seen as important and attractive transport corridor. Both Finnish and Estonian private actors stress that in order to assure the sufficient freight and passenger flows, the corridor should be connected to Russia. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.em.17.1.2289