Trams in Helsinki

Trams in Helsinki form part of the public transport system organised by Helsinki Regional Transport Authority and operated by Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd in Finland's capital city of Helsinki. The trams are the main means of transport in the city centre, and 56.8 million trips were made on the system in 2019. In addition to the older tram network, there is a single light rail line that was opened in October 2023. Although technically compatible with the tram network, the light rail line is separate from the tram network.
History
Current system
Lines
, the network consists of eleven individually numbered lines, plus weekend-only lines 1T and 8T. In addition, starting on 14 August 2023, line 9N runs on a slightly modified route of line 9 during early Saturday and Sunday morning.
In addition to the 11 regular lines two special ones exist: the museum line operated by Helsinki City Transport in collaboration with Oy Stadin Ratikat Ab and the Spårakoff pub tram, both of which run during the summer months. These lines do not appear in the route map included with this article.
Network
The tram network is built almost exclusively on the streets of Helsinki, making it a traditional tram system rather than light rail. The track gauge is one metre. The network consists almost entirely of double track rail. In some parts the tracks are separated from other road traffic; elsewhere they share road space with cars and buses.
The trams are powered with electricity conveyed by overhead wires. Trams have their own traffic lights, distinguished from normal lights in that they are based on symbols of single colour: an upward-pointing arrow signifies "go", a horizontal line "prepare to stop" and the letter S "stop". The traffic lights are synchronised to allow tram and bus traffic to flow relatively smoothly. This system is called HeLMi (Helsinki Public Transport Signal Priority and Passenger Information).
Rolling stock
, HKL has 122 tram units in scheduled passenger service. Additionally, there are trams in reserve and in charter use. The MLNRV I and II series (rebuilt Valmet Nr I and Valmet Nr II units), and Škoda Artic series comprise the current backbone of the fleet.
In 2006–2011, all Valmet Nr II (at that point known as NRV II) vehicles underwent a major modification process in which a low-floor midsection was added to the tram. The type designation was changed to MLNRV II to reflect the modifications made, and the longer trams were re-introduced in traffic gradually as the modification works were completed. During the process, HKL also rebuilt ten of the older Nr I trams (at that point known as NRV II) in the same way, which brought the total number of MLNRV trams to 52 upon completion in mid-2014.
The fully low-floor Variotram units, acquired in 1998–2003 from Adtranz (later Bombardier) and built by Transtech Oy in Otanmäki, proved to be unreliable, causing a shortage of operable trams. Starting in 2004, HKL purchased ten Duewag series second-hand trams from Mannheim in Germany to cover for the shortage. Eventually arrangements were made with Bombardier to keep a sufficient number of the units in operation. All of the Duewag units were either withdrawn or relegated to charter service by the end of 2014. All Variotrams were taken out of use in 2018 because of the problems.
Beginning in 2013, HKL acquired 72 new Artic trams. They have a double-articulated, eight-axle design, are long and have 74 fixed seats, 14 foldable seats and space for 75 standing passengers. The design has a 100% low floor and conventional, turning bogies designed to run without problems on Helsinki's challenging old-fashioned track network. Two prototype units were delivered in 2013, and each entered passenger service approximately two months after delivery. In 2018 both prototype units were sold to Schöneiche bei Berlin tramway.
The first unit of the production series (out of 70), no. 403, arrived in Helsinki in January 2016.
HKL has ordered 29 Artic X54 units for line 15, of which 15 are in service, and 23 for the Crown Bridges light rail lines. The first prototype unit arrived in Helsinki in April 2021.
Depots
, there are several tram depots and workshops in Helsinki. The city center tram services currently use Töölö and Koskela and a maintenance facility in Vallila. A new depot for 100 trams and 200 buses is being built in Ruskeasuo and the new depot, combined with a rebuild of the aging Koskela depot, is planned to eventually fully replace the Töölö and Vallila facilities.
Line 15 (Jokeri light rail) has a separate depot in Roihupelto. The Crown Bridges light rail lines will have as separate depot constructed in Yliskylä, originally due to be completed in 2026.
Planned extension of the network
See also
Helsinki Metro
Trams in Finland
Tampere light rail
References
Bibliography
Helsinki City Transport
Helsingin Sanomat
Miscellaneous
External links
Helsinki City Transport official website
Track plan of the Helsinki tram system
Raide-Jokeri (Official website)
Transport in Helsinki
Tram transport in Finland
Metre gauge railways in Finland
600 V DC railway electrification
Town tramway systems by city