Finnish prime minister contradicts transport minister on Western Rail Line construction timeline

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has rejected claims by Transport Minister Lulu Ranne that construction of Finland’s Western Rail Line (Länsirata) would be delayed until the next government term, Yle reports, citing the STT news agency.

Speaking to reporters at Parliament on Wednesday, Orpo stated that “nowhere has it been decided” that work on the rail project would not begin during the current government’s term. He emphasised that the goal remains to start construction “as quickly as possible” and expressed hope that work could still commence before the next election.

Orpo confirmed that a final decision on the project will be made during this government’s term, directly contradicting Ranne’s earlier statement to STT that construction would be postponed until after the current administration.

The Western Rail Line is a planned high-speed rail connection intended to improve transport links between Finland’s major cities.