Trams in Helsinki

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Trams in Helsinki
Artic tram on Kaivokatu in 2019
Overview
Owner	City of Helsinki
Area served	Helsinki, Espoo
Locale	Uusimaa
Transit type	Tram
Line number	1-10, 13, 15
Number of stops	344[1]
Annual ridership	56.8 million
Operation
Began operation	1891
Operator(s)	Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd
Character	At-grade street running with some segregated right-of-ways
Number of vehicles	137
Technical
System length	Line length: 110.5 km (68.7 mi) (October 2023)[1]
No. of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3/8 in)
Minimum radius of curvature	15 m (49.2 ft)
Electrification	750 V DC[2]
Top speed	70 km/h (43 mph)

Trams in Helsinki form part of the public transport system organised by Helsinki Regional Transport Authority and operated by Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd (Finnish: Paakaupunkiseudun Kaupunkiliikenne Oy, Swedish: Huvudstadsregionens Stadstrafik Ab) in Finland's capital city of Helsinki. The trams are the main means of transport in the city center, and 56.8 million trips were made on the system in 2019.^[1][3] 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 city center tram network.^[4]

As of 2 September 2024^[update], the network consists of 11 individually numbered city center tram lines and one numbered light rail line. Lines 1 and 8 operate on a slightly different route during weekends when they go to the West Harbour terminal, indicated with a "T" suffix on the line number. Lines 3N and 9N are operated on a slightly modified line 3 and 9 route respectively during night time.^[5][6] The light rail line 15 is currently the only tram line in Helsinki to also reach the neighbouring city of Espoo, all other lines travel inside Helsinki only.

Helsinki tram lines as of 2 September 2024^[update]

Line		Type	From	Via	To	Maps
	1[a]	City center	Eira	Lasipalatsi, Toolo, Sornainen	Kapyla	Line 1(T) Legend Pohjolanaukio Metsolantie Kapylanaukio Kimmontie Koskelantie Uintikeskus Makelanrinne Rautalammintie Hattulantie Vallilan kirjasto Lautatarhankatu Sornainen Helsinginkatu Urheilutalo Linnanmaki (etela) Kaupunginpuutarha Ooppera Toolontori Apollonkatu Sammonkatu Hanken Luonnont. museo Lasipalatsi Ylioppilastalo Erottaja Fredrikinkatu Line 1 (weekdays only) Line 1T (weekends only) Iso Roobertinkatu Aleksanterinteatteri Viiskulma Hietalahdentori Eiran sairaala Hietalahti Peramiehenkatu Kalevankatu Telakkakatu Huutokonttori Lansiterminaali 1 Lansiterminaali 2 Continues as line 8T to Arabia This diagram: view talk edit
	1T[b]		West Harbour
	2[c]	City center	Olympia Terminal	Market Square, Central Railway Station, Kamppi, Toolo	Pasila	Line 2 Legend Messukeskus Asemapaalikonkatu Pasila station Palkkatilanportti Elaintarha Auroran sairaala Kansanelakelaitos Ooppera Toolontori Apollonkatu Sammonkatu Hanken Kamppi Simonkatu Rautatieasema Mikonkatu Aleksanterinkatu Senaatintori Kauppatori Etelaranta Olympiaterminaali Continues as line 3 to Meilahti This diagram: view talk edit
	3[c]	City center	Olympia Terminal	Eira, Central Railway Station, Hakaniemi	Pikku Huopalahti	Line 3 Legend Kuusitie Jalavatie Toolontulli Auroran sairaala Elaintarha Karjalankatu Linnanmaki (pohj.) Alppila Urheilutalo Kaarlenkatu Karhupuisto Kallion virastotalo Hakaniemi Kaisaniemenpuisto Kaisaniemenkatu Rautatieasema Ylioppilastalo Erottaja Fredrikinkatu Iso Roobertinkatu Viiskulma Eiran sairaala Kapteeninkatu Neitsytpolku Kaivopuisto Olympiaterminaali Continues as line 2 to Messukeskus This diagram: view talk edit
	3N[d]				Meilahti
	4	City center	Katajanokka	Alppila	Munkkiniemi	Line 4 Legend Saunalahdentie Tiilimaki Laajalahden aukio Munkkiniemen puistotie Paciuksenkaari Meilahdentie Meilahden sairaala Toolontulli Kansanelakelaitos Toolon halli Route via Mannerheimintie being upgraded Toolontori Apollonkatu Hesperian puisto Sammonkatu Hanken Kansallismuseo Luonnont. museo Lasipalatsi Ylioppilastalo Aleksanterinkatu Senaatintori Ritarihuone Tove Jannsonin puisto Kauppiaankatu Vyokatu Ulkoministerio Katajanokan terminaali This diagram: view talk edit
	5[e]	City center	Katajanokka ferry terminal		Central Railway Station	Line 5 Legend Rautatieasema Ylioppilastalo Mikonkatu Aleksanterinkatu Senaatintori Ritarihuone Tove Jannsonin puisto Kauppiaankatu Katajanokan terminaali This diagram: view talk edit
	6	City center	Eiranranta	Central Station, Sornainen	Arabia	Line 6 Legend Arabianranta Arabiankatu Kumtahdenkentta Kumpulan kampus Paavalinkirkko Vallilan varikko Hauhon puisto Lautatarhankatu Sornainen Lintulahti Haapaniemi Hakaniemi Kaisaniemenpuisto Kaisaniemenkatu Rautatieasema Ylioppilastalo Erottaja Fredrikinkatu Aleksanterinteatteri Hietalahdentori Telakanpuistikko Munkkisaari Eiranranta This diagram: view talk edit
	7[f]	City center	West Harbour	Central Railway Station, Kruununhaka, Sornainen, Pasila	Meilahti Hospital	Line 7 Legend Meilahden sairaala Toolontulli Auroran sairaala Elaintarha Palkkatilanportti Pasila station Asemapaalikonkatu Radanrakentajantie Makelanrinne Rautalammintie Hattulantie Vallilan kirjasto Lautatarhankatu Sornainen Lintulahti Haapaniemi Hakaniemi Snellmaninkatu Kansallisarkisto Hallituskatu Senaatintori Aleksanterinkatu Mikonkatu Rautatieasema Simonkatu Kampintori Ruoholahden villat Lansilinkki Huutokonttori Lansiterminaali 1 Lansiterminaali 2 Continues as line 9 to Ilmala This diagram: view talk edit
	8[a]	City center	Jatkasaari	Ruoholahti, Toolo, Sornainen	Arabia	Line 8(T) Legend Arabianranta Arabiankatu Kumtahdenkentta Kumpulan kampus Paavalinkirkko Vallilan varikko Hauhon puisto Lautatarhankatu Sornainen Helsinginkatu Urheilutalo Linnanmaki (etela) Kaupunginpuutarha Ooppera Toolontori Apollonkatu Arkadiankatu Maria Itamerenkatu Ruoholahti Kaapelitehdas Crusellinsilta Line 8 (weekdays only) Line 8T (weekends only) Saukonpaasi Saukonkatu Kanariankatu Lansiterminaali 2 Continues as line 1T to Kapyla This diagram: view talk edit
	8T[b]		West Harbour
	9[f]	City center	West Harbour	Kamppi, Central Railway Station, Kallio, Pasila	Ilmala	Line 9(N) Legend Ilmala station Uutiskatu Eevanmaki Esterinportti Pasila station Jamsankatu Pasilan konepaja Kotkankatu Sturenkatu Fleminginkatu Helsinginkatu Kaarlenkatu Karhupuisto Kallion virastotalo Hakaniemi Kaisaniemenpuisto Kaisaniemenkatu Rautatieasema Simonkatu Kampintori Ruoholahden villat Lansilinkki Huutokonttori Line 9 all other times Line 9N (Fri & Sat nights only) Valimerenkatu Saukonkatu Kanariankatu Lansiterminaali 1 Lansiterminaali 2 Continues as line 7 to Meilahden sairaala This diagram: view talk edit
	9N[g]		Jatkasaari
	10	City center	Ullanlinna	Lasipalatsi	Vallila	Line 10 Legend Korppaanmaki Haapalahdenkatu Kytosuontie Ruskeasuo Tilkka Kuusitie Jalavatie Toolontulli Kansanelakelaitos Toolon halli Ooppera Hesperian puisto Kansallismuseo Lasipalatsi Ylioppilastalo Kolmikulma Johanneksenkirkko Tarkka-ampujankatu This diagram: view talk edit
	13	City center	Nihti	Kalasatama, Pasila	West Pasila	Line 13 Legend Lansi-Pasila (Maistraatintori) Palkkatilanportti Esterinportti Pasilan asema Asemapaallikonkatu Velodromi Nylanderinpuisto Haukilahdenkatu Vanha talvitie Kalasatama Polariksenkatu Sompasaari Nihti This diagram: view talk edit
	15	Light rail	Keilaniemi	Otaniemi, Laajalahti, Leppavaara, Huopalahti, Oulunkyla, Viikki	Itakeskus	Line 15 Legend Keilaniemi Otaranta Aalto-yliopisto Maari Lahdenpohja Laajalahti Linnoitustie Alberganesplanadi Leppavaara station Perkkaa Vermo Ravitie Espoo Helsinki Talin siirt.puutarha Takomotie Kutomotie Vihdintie Huopalahti station Ilkantie Hameenlinnanvayla Pirkkola Pirjontie Maunula Kustaankartano Teininpuisto Oulunkylan keskusta Oulunkyla station Verajamaki Viikinmaki Viikin tiedepuisto Latokartano Karhukallio Kauppamyllyntie Roihupelto Itakeskus Detailed diagram Helsinki Metro to Koivusaari Keilaniemi Otaranta Aalto-yliopisto Maari Helsinki Metro to Tapiola Lahdenpohja Ring I Laajalahti Vt 1 Linnoitustie Alberganesplanadi to Kilo Leppavaara station Ring I Perkkaa Vermo Makkyla Ravitie Talin siirtolapuutarha Pitajanmaki Takomotie Kutomotie Valimo Vihdintie to Pohjois-Haaga Huopalahti station to Ilmala Ilkantie Vt 3 Hameenlinnanvayla Pirkkola Pirjontie Maunula Kt 45 Kustaankartano Teininpuisto Oulunkylan keskusta to Kapyla Oulunkyla station Verajamaki to Pukinmaki Viikinmaki Vt 4 Viikin tiedepuisto Latokartano Karhukallio Kauppamyllyntie to Roihupelto depot Helsinki Metro to Siilitie Roihupelto to Roihupelto depot Itakeskus Helsinki Metro to Myllypuro Helsinki Metro to Puotila Sources[7] This diagram: view talk edit

In addition, the SparaKoff pub tram has operated during the summer months since 1995.^[8]

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 750 V DC overhead wires, after the voltage was raised from 600 V in 2025.^[2][9] 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 go/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).^[10] Line 15 uses a different system based on inductive loops and requests from the trams themselves. Line 15's traffic lights also have a fourth aspect: a circle above the letter S, which signifies that the traffic light has acknowledged receipt of a request for the tram. On the inner-city network, a small flashing LED is provided with the S aspect.

As of November 2022^[update], 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 Skoda Artic series comprise the city center fleet, and the light rail line 15 uses bidirectional Skoda Artic X54 units.

In 2006-2011, all Valmet Nr II (at that point known as NRV II) vehicles underwent a major modification process in which a 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) 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 Otanmaki, 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.^[11] 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.^[12][13]

Beginning in 2013, HKL acquired 72 new Artic trams. They have a double-articulated, eight-axle design, are 27.3 m (89 ft 7 in) long and have 74 fixed seats, 14 foldable seats and space for 75 standing passengers.^[14] The design has a 100% low floor and conventional, turning bogies designed to run without problems on Helsinki's challenging old-fashioned track network.^[15] Two prototype units were delivered in 2013, and each entered passenger service approximately two months after delivery. The first unit of the production series (out of 70), no. 403, arrived in Helsinki in January 2016. In 2018 both prototype units were sold to Schoneiche bei Berlin tramway.^[16]

Helsinki City Transport, the predecessor of Metropolitan Area Transport, has ordered 29 Artic X54 units for line 15, of which 15 are in service,^{[as of?]} and 23 for the Crown Bridges light rail lines. The first prototype unit arrived in Helsinki in April 2021.^[17][18]

Metropolitan Area Transport announced a tender in October 2023 to acquire new rolling stock to replace the aging MLNRV fleet and to support new services.^[19] In October 2025, Metropolitan Area Transport chose Stadler Rail to build 30 unidirectional and 33 bi-directional units based on the Stadler Tango platform for EUR271 million to replace old rolling stock as well as to support the Vantaa light rail and West Helsinki light rail extensions to the network.^[20][21]

Rolling stock as of November 2022^[update][22]

Model	Type	No. of units	Car #	Built	Acquired	Modified	Seats	Standees	L	W	H
MLNRV I (Valmet Nr I)	City center	10	113-122	1973-75	1973-75	1993-2003, 2005, 2012-14	49	120	26.5	2.3	3.7
MLNRV II (Valmet Nr II)	City center	42	71-112	1983-87	1983-87	1996-2006, 2008-12	49	120	26.5	2.3	3.7
Skoda Transtech Artic	City center	70	403-472	2012-2019	2013-2019		88	125	27.6	2.4	3.8
Skoda Transtech Artic X54	Light rail	20 (32 more total on order)	601-652	2019-	2021-		78+4	136	34.0	2.4	3.8
Totals		122					8,708	14,990

Former rolling stock

Tram type	No. of units	Car #	Built	Acquired	Modified	Seats	Standees	L	W	H
HRO A9	1	1[A]	1917	2007	2007	28	0	11.5	2.2
HRO A7	1	135	1928	1928	1988	21	26	10.2	2.1	3.7
HRO A4	1	157	1930	1930	1987	21	26	10.2	2.1	3.7
Karia HM IV	1	320	1955	1955	1985	29	69	13.5	2.3	3.6
Valmet RM 1	2	332, 339[B]	1955	1955	1987, 2003-04	29	69	13.5	2.3	3.6
Karia HM V	6	9-14, 175[C]	1959	1959	2004-07	31	57	13.5	2.3	3.6
Duewag GT8N	1	166	1962, 1964	2007-08	1991-92	55	120	25.7	2.2	3.8
Duewag GT8	1	150	1967	2004	1970, 2004	64	140	25.7	2.2	3.8
NRV (Valmet Nr I)	30	31-70	1973-75	1973-75	1993-2003, 2005	39	106	20.1	2.3	3.7
MLRV Bombardier Variotram	40	201-240	1998-2003	1998-2003		55	80	24.4	2.3	3.7
Skoda Transtech Artic (Prototype)	2	401-402	2013	2013		88	125	27.6	2.4	3.8

As of April 2023^[update], there are several tram depots and workshops in Helsinki. The city center tram services currently use Toolo 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 Toolo and Vallila facilities.^{[23][24][25][26]}

Line 15 (Jokeri light rail) has a separate depot in Roihupelto.^[27] The Crown Bridges light rail lines will have as separate depot constructed in Yliskyla, originally due to be completed in 2026.^[28][29]

• Helsinki Metro
• Trams in Finland
  • Tampere light rail

Miscellaneous

• Transport by tram on the Metropolitan Area Transport website

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