A 70-year-old man from Espoo fears his family home will become an inheritance burden for his son due to Finland's ongoing Hour Train project. Jukka Oksanen owns half of a row house in Salo's Lukkarinmäki district where the planned rail line would pass directly beside the property.
Oksanen describes the situation as completely crazy. He inherited the home with his sister in 2019 after their parents passed away. The house originally served as their family home during his youth.
Initial attempts to sell the property failed when real estate agents refused to list it once they learned the address. The looming train project made the apartment unsellable. Oksanen eventually rented it out instead.
Now the building requires major renovations as it was constructed in the early 1970s. Potential pipe replacement work looms as the next necessary project. Oksanen faces difficult decisions about investing in a building that might be demolished for the railway.
He criticizes the slow decision-making process that has left property owners in limbo for years. Oksanen worries the inheritance problem will simply pass to his son if the situation continues unresolved.
The planned Länsirata railway would cut through the historic Lukkarinmäki area in Salo. Oksanen believes the train and necessary tunnel construction would largely destroy the neighborhood's character.
He questions why Finland would spend billions building new rail lines during current economic conditions. Oksanen suggests improving existing coastal rail routes would make more sense than constructing entirely new infrastructure.
Despite recent agreements between the state and project shareholders, final decisions remain pending. Municipal councils must still approve the deal, leaving open the possibility of further negotiations or even project cancellation.
Oksanen says he has received no information about potential compensation terms if his property faces compulsory purchase. No officials have contacted him about the building's fate despite his inquiries.
The situation highlights how major infrastructure projects can create years of uncertainty for affected residents. Property owners like Oksanen remain stuck between necessary maintenance costs and potential demolition.