Transport and Communications Minister Lulu Ranne (Finns) has ordered the suspension of talks over the proposed construction of a high-speed rail connection between Helsinki and Turku.
In a statement to Yle, Ranne said that the negotiations have been suspended because the state and the municipalities, where the proposed line would operate, have failed to reach an agreement.
She declined to comment further.
The so-called "one-hour train" project began to gather momentum under the previous Sanna Marin-led government, with the establishment of a limited company called Turun Tunnin Juna (roughly translated as 'Turku's One-Hour Train').
However, tabloid Iltalehti reported on Friday that the plans completely derailed in March because the state and the municipalities failed to find an agreement on the distribution of costs.
The talks involve the cities of Turku, Espoo, Kirkkonummi, Vihti, Lohja and Salo — although Helsinki was excluded from the construction phase, a point which IL reported was a source of contention for the other stakeholders.
The municipalities have a 49 percent share in the project, with the remaining 51 percent owned by the Finnish state.
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