A report and stage-by-stage implementation plan for improving public transportation was commissioned as a part of the TASE 2025 project by the city of Tampere in cooperation with its neighboring towns. The plan suggests strengthening the existing regional train network as one possible way to develop rail traffic. New and renewable railside areas along the rail network can be taken into modification. In my thesis, which is a part of the undergraduate degree in architecture, I will focus on the Hankkio area in eastern Tampere which has suitable characteristics to be developed in terms of rail traffic.

The Hankkio area is defined by structures created by trades in different times. The area is divided by a rail road. To the south there is, closely conforming to Kangasalantie, a small industries area with both active and more quiescent units. To the north there are old farms with fields. The quiescency and on the other hand the versatile traffic conditions make Hankkio a potential target for development to respond to the needs of the growing population in the city. A regional train station and new supporting operations would also create a north-south connection, which is currently non-existent.

In my thesis I will focus on the Hankkio area in terms of both analysis and planning. The goal has been a flexible stage-by-stage plan with a development process, which can be begun simultaneously in different parts of the area. The main focus of both the analysis and planning has been on large scale examination of land use. The aim has been to create a node connecting network to the area which guarantees an unobstructed transport of people, goods and information between different parts of the urban structure. On some parts also closer examinations on the potential progress of the processes have been conducted.

My thesis is a continuation to earlier research in TUT on rail traffic and urban fallow lands in Tampere. The development potential of railside areas in Tampere has been examined in 2004 from the viewpoint of the light rail traffic system and also a thesis on the Hankkio area has been written using the examination as a basis (1). The potential of the Hankkio area has been since examined in an urban fallow land project which begun in TUT in 2006. The still ongoing project has evaluated the development potential of the activities which will be created in the area. The Hankkio area is one of many examined within the research.