According to VR officials there had been an accelerated decline in the number of Russians travelling between St. Petersburg and Helsinki using its Allegro high-speed train service towards the end of the year.
Back in October VR estimated that annual passenger numbers would remain at the same level as in 2013 – or nearly 460,000 passengers. However VR has revised down its 2014 estimate to some 420,000 passengers – a far cry from previous estimated growth of four percent on last year’s trips.
VR’s passenger service manager Riitta Piistari said that so far daily reports indicated that December has been unusually quiet.
Hopes for more New Year passengers
Instead, the state railway is looking ahead to the period after the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6, when Russians traditionally take their end-of-year holiday break. It hopes to make up for a lack-lustre December during that time.
However even the prospects for that period look somewhat dim, VR says. Piistari said that forecasts for New Year traffic from Russia suggest that it will shrink up to 30 percent compared to the previous year. Its estimates include additional trains as well as the Tolstoy shuttle which operates between Helsinki and Moscow.
According to Piistari VR doesn’t plan to discontinue the Allegro service just because passenger numbers have fallen off. Instead the company will cut back on the timetable for now - it will beef up marketing in Russian in the New Year and will also offer specially discounted rates in an effort to attract more travelers.
The rail provider will be looking to match this year’s passenger numbers on the Allegro route in 2015. Piistari noted however that it’s challenging to forecast passenger volumes given the current instability of the rouble – if it depreciates further. no one can predict what will happen next, she added.