The new booking service for Russia-bound traffic at the Vaalimaa border crossing point, will be available for freight traffic on 15.12.2014. The service is free of charge for users and available at www.evpa.fi.

The service is mandatory for freight traffic using the Vaalimaa border crossing point only and traveling from Finland to Russia. The booking service will be used for testing how to reduce peak hour traffic in the future. The long-term goal is to streamline traffic and increase road safety, by smoothing traffic volumes.

The booking service is based on a simple operating model. The driver plans the time when he or she wants to cross the border and books the border crossing time before arrival at the border, on the Internet at www.evpa.fi, at the self-service terminal in Rajahovi at Vaalimaa or the 24/7 call-centre.

After booking the time, the driver can drive to the border crossing point. The border crossing is booked in one hour time slots, starting at the beginning of each hour. Drivers have an hour interval to arrive at the border crossing point.  The time can also be changed.

Freight drivers can sign up for the live queue at the truck waiting area in Vaalimaa, or sign up for the service at the self-service terminals located at the ports of Kotka and Hamina. Part of the service capacity is used for those in the live queue.

The lighting and telematics contract of Vaalimaa is progressing according to schedule and e.g., the traffic light interface needed for the booking service will be completed in December.

Distribution of brochures introducing the new service to drivers has been agreed with the border crossings points, with the Rajahovi petrol station and with the consulates issuing visas. The electronic booking system is a less expensive way to ease traffic congestion than construction of new roads and lanes, says Project Manager Jyrki Järvinen from Southeast Finland ELY Centre.

Part of the Finnish intelligent transport strategy

The border traffic booking service is part of the Finnish intelligent transport strategy. The subscriber of the service is the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, and theFinnish Transport Agency owns the database. GoSwift hosts the service. In addition to these participants, the project includes the Customs, Border Guards and the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The project is promoted in cooperation with the Russian border authorities.