Finland has been able to implement major, collective reforms whenever we have dared to look far enough into the future. One good example of this is the electrification of the main railway network. At the time, it was not just a matter of introducing a new propelling force for the railways, but a decision to build a stronger foundation for Finnish rail transport for decades to come. Today, we take the existence of an electrified rail network for granted, even though, when the decisions were made, its benefits could only be seen far in the future.
The same mindset is evident in Digirail.
Being bold does not mean reckless risk-taking or leaping into the unknown. True courage is about the ability to take an honest look at the current situation, identify future challenges and make decisions in a timely manner. Even when their benefits aren’t immediately apparent. Maintaining and developing key social structures requires foresight. Sometimes the most important investments are made precisely when there is no immediate crisis in sight.
There are currently more than 200 interlockings and 10 different interlocking systems in operation on the Finnish railway network. The oldest ones date back to the 1960s, and the most recent ones are from the current decade. The system, which has been built up over decades, has made safe traffic possible, but at the same time it has become technically fragmented and challenging to maintain.
One option is to continue maintaining the current systems and fixing them as problems arise. In this case, we must be prepared for a growing need of spare parts and challenges related to their availability, for maintaining skills that are becoming increasingly rare, and for increasing risks to the reliability of rail service and the utilisation of rail capacity. In any case, an overhaul of the train control system is also on the horizon. The longer the required decisions are postponed, the higher the costs become. At the same time, safety and traffic conditions deteriorate.
Another option is Digirail, a project that has been in the works for years and involves the phased construction of a unified system for the entire railway network. The goal is not simply to replace the old with the new for the sake of reform, but to lay the foundation for the future of rail transport. Just as the electrification of the railway network once enabled improved performance, Digirail lays the groundwork for future capacity, automation and improved service.
This decision was not made lightly. During Digirail’s feasibility phase, several options for implementing the system were evaluated. Various technical, financial and operational solutions were carefully reviewed in collaboration with industry stakeholders. The outcome was not predetermined, nor was it the same as the assumptions made in the early stages of the project. That is precisely why the preparatory work was successful: an open-minded approach led to a better solution than the one that would have been chosen by sticking to the original assumptions.
At the same time, Digirail reveals something essential about the Finnish way of innovating. The strength of a small country lies in its ability to bring people together around the same table and work out solutions together. Digirail is not the project of a single organisation, but rather a collective transformation of the entire industry. Its success is based on cooperation, a shared vision and long-term commitment.
The boldness to innovate does not mean ignoring risks. It is the ability to make well-informed decisions when the current situation alone is no longer sufficient to meet future needs. Digirail is an investment whose significance lies not only in what it replaces but, above all, in what it will make possible.
The future of Finland’s railways is in all of our hands. And we must act now – boldly, but wisely.
Jari Pylvänäinen
Director, Development, Fintraffic