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Imatra's public transport will be transferred to Lappeenranta
A new era in Imatra's public transport is coming on January 1.1.2024, XNUMX.
At that time, the responsibility for organizing public transport is transferred from the city of Imatra to the city of Lappeenranta: in the future, Lappeenranta will therefore be responsible for Imatra's local transport.
What will change in practice, and when? And do the people of Imatra have any say in the city's public transport?
At first, everything stays the same
The most important information first: initially only the responsibility for organizing will change.
Public transport at the beginning of January works exactly the same as at the end of December, says Terhi Koski, public transport manager of the city of Lappeenranta.
The timetables can still be found in the timetable guide and on the website. Imatra's timetables will also be added to Lappeenranta's website. Tickets and taxis remain unchanged. Annual passes will be removed from the ticket selection at the turn of the year, but all other ticket products will remain unchanged.
The troops arrive at Imatra
However, changes are coming. Since the beginning of January, the city of Lappeenranta has been responsible for public transport communication, marketing and feedback processing.
Joukobrandi, known from Lappeenranta, will also appear in Imatra during the next year.
- We organized Joukko's marketing shoots at Imatra this fall. Images will be seen in public transport communication and marketing, Koski says.
The pink Jouko buses will arrive in Imatra after the next public transport contract period begins. The competition will start next year.
2024 Lappeenranta responds to public transport feedback.
Practices are harmonized
The goal of the merger is to streamline and clarify the public transport within Imatra and Lappeenranta and to improve the traffic connections between the cities.
Over time, the timetables and real-time bus information will be transferred to the joint Jouko route guide and application. In addition, ticket products are combined to make traveling and paying as easy as possible.
- There is a lot of commuter traffic between cities, for example, and these changes make it easier for them to travel, says Koski.
The renewal of the ticket and payment system is currently underway in Lappeenranta. In the coming months, the same ticket and payment system that Imatra has been using for several years will be introduced there.
The people of Imatra will continue to be heard
But what about decision-making - will Imatra's public transport be decided at the tables of Lappeenranta in the future?
No decision, answers Koski.
Regional public transport has been prepared in cooperation between the cities, and close cooperation continues. For public transport, a public transport board for the Lappeenranta region will be established, which will include members from both Imatra and Lappeenranta.
The city of Imatra will continue to define the level of public transport it wants in the city and the budget with which the service will be organized.
- Lappeenranta's task is to be responsible for the implementation. The people of Imatra will therefore be consulted in public transport matters in the future as well, Koski promises.
Read more:
This story is related to Imatra city's residents' appendix 4/2023, which will be published on Sunday 26.11.. Between the news year. Read the appendix in its entirety from this link.
Comments 4 pcs
One organizer instead of three
- Previously, public transport was organized by Imatra, Lappeenranta and ELY-keskus
- In the future, one organizer will facilitate traffic
- Costs are shared: Imatra pays for Imatra's traffic, 40 percent of traffic between cities and administrative costs
Things are going well...
Yes, things will get complicated, yes, all local traffic will be moved to Lappeenranta and public transport will not be able to get to the hospital, the only thing is the taxi, initially, the only r kiosk in Mansikkala will be closed down, and now this problem is still there, yes, I am already considering moving out of here, and also this Imatra paper factory will be closed down at the beginning of this year, this was already reported last year at the end of the year, this city has started to become deserted, apparently everything will be lost
Hi Seija, thanks...
Hi Seija, thanks for the feedback. The feedback is taken into account when possible in public transport planning.
The city of Lappeenranta is responsible for organizing Imatra's public transport. You can give feedback on public transport on the Lappeenranta website at: https://epalvelu.lappeenranta.fi/eFeedback/
Could it be 23 after all...
Could the 23 buses finally go around Honkaharju hospital, like the 21?? There are also people from here who often have to use hospital services. Many elderly people with rollators have to walk up a steep and long hill - it is difficult for many.
More employees would also use the bus if there were good connections. In other words, weekend schedules could be increased - especially on weekends you can't get to work at 7 in the morning, because the buses don't run before then.
I hope that now things will finally change, because during Imatra public transport it didn't change, although we have been in touch a couple of times. The explanation the first time was that you can't change in the middle of the season and the second time that you can't fulfill the wishes of an individual person....
Would you finally be able to…
Would it finally be possible to change the schedule of line 21 so that it leaves Mansikkala Central School from Virasoja always regularly, i.e. at 8, 9 and 10 and the student does not have to be late every day like now. As well as leaving school, which also doesn't work because bus 22 to Virasojja always goes right in front of you and then you have to wait 45 minutes for the next one plus the bus ride another hour, 8 km school trips, an unreasonable amount of time. The city of Imatra was unable or unwilling to prepare the previous schedule. We await your reply.
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