The core parts of lines R and D lie on the entire extent of the section, though some of these services continue onto the Riihimäki–Tampere railway as well.

Line Z branches off towards Lahti after making stops at Tikkurila and Kerava.

The Helsinki–Riihimäki section is a core part of long-distance transport in Finland.

After departing from Helsinki, trains make stops in Pasila and Tikkurila and proceed towards Kerava, from where they will either transfer onto the eastbound Kerava-Lahti railway line or proceed north towards Riihimäki and the regions of Pirkanmaa and Ostrobothnia via the Riihimäki–Tampere railway.

The termini of the routes that pass through the Helsinki–Riihimäki railway include Tampere, Seinäjoki, Vaasa, Ylivieska, Oulu, Rovaniemi, Kemijärvi, Kouvola, Imatra, Joensuu, Kuopio and Kajaani.