Public transport in Helsinki
Public transport in Helsinki consists of bus, tram, metro, local railway and ferry services.
Until the August 9, 2021 opening of the Tampere light rail, Helsinki was the only Finnish city to have a tram system.
In 2017, construction started on a tram line in the city of Tampere; services are scheduled to initiate in 2021.
For comparison, Helsinki's public transport system has a higher ridership than any city in the U.S. except New York.
The metro currently serves the eastern suburbs of Helsinki, some areas close to the city center, and parts of southern Espoo.
Local trains operate on grade-separated, dedicated tracks on three rail lines that radiate out from the Helsinki Central railway station.
Most routes offer rapid-transit-like service with a peak headway of 10 or 15 minutes, the last trains departing from Helsinki city center only after 1 am, or 4 am on weekend nights.
A service to the Helsinki Airport began in July 2015, when the Ring Rail Line extension to the system opened.
In August 2013, HSL launched the first trunk bus route, the orbital line 550, formerly branded Jokeri.
The trunk lines are meant to provide "metro-like" service with very short headways and a distinguishable fleet.
The biggest bus operators are Nobina Finland,the VR (state rail) owned Pohjolan Liikenne, and Helsingin Bussiliikenne (HelB).
Such exceptions are present as dedicated lines operating directly from a suburb to another past the centre (for example Helsinki buses 51–54, 56–59).
In daytime outside of rush hours the basic interval for buses is mostly either 10, 15, 20, 30 or 60 minutes depending on the length and the demand of the line.
[10][11] As with daytime buses, the bus drivers do not sell tickets or cards onboard and they must be purchased in advance.
[12] Helsinki Central Station is the local transport hub for night buses in the city centre.
The regional lines are specially designed for moving people between important points in the metropolitan area and for the sole purpose of getting to downtown Helsinki.
Two-number regional lines are rare, and thus far only two have been created: 39 Kamppi-Myyrmäki (replaced by trunk bus 30) and 74 Hakaniemi-Porttipuisto (IKEA).
The network covers the densely populated central districts and some of the adjacent areas, but it has been expanded only very modestly after the 1950s.
The ferries are the only connection to the mainland for the residents of Suomenlinna, though a tunnel for emergency vehicle access is in place.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the sale of single tickets in buses ended in 2020 and it was later decided to make that permanent.
The metro, local trains, trams, ferries, and nine bus lines classified as trunk lines use a proof-of-payment system: fare inspectors check tickets on randomly selected vehicles, and charge a fine of €100 and the price of a single ticket to those who do not have one.
