Public transport in Helsinki
Public transport in Helsinki consists of bus, tram, metro, train, and ferry services. The system is managed by Helsinki City Transport (HKL) for the lines that remain in Helsinki and by Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council (YTV) for the routes running in several municipalities.
Systems
Bus
Internal
Internal bus routes of Helsinki (Helsingin sisäiset linjat) can be found almost anywhere in Helsinki. For some parts of the city these buses provide the backbone of the public transportation system.
The routes are drawn and the timetables set by HKL, but operated by independent companies. HKL holds a competition for each route or a set of routes, and the company offering to operate the route for the best quality-price ratio will get the contract. The quality is measured with a pointing system which gives points for such aspects as the quietness and size of the buses that would be used.
Many of the buses operate as a feeder lines for the Helsinki Metro or VR commuter rail. This is especially true for the eastern Helsinki.
Nearly all other routes have the other end of the line in the downtown near the Helsinki Central railway station.
The line numbers for the internal lines contain two digits and for some a letter.
Most lines are operated between 5:30 and 23:45. Nighttime lines which operate from 23:45 to 1:30 are signified by letter N. Lines 01N-09N operate from 2:00 to 5:00 but only on the Friday-Saturday and Saturday-Sunday nights.
Regional
The regional bus lines are managed by YTV in similar manner to the management of the internal lines by HKL. The regional lines have been designed for moving people between important points in the metropolitan area or for the sole purpose of getting to downtown Helsinki. These lines tend to use the fastest possible way to get out of Helsinki, usually through motorways. They have also quite often newer buses than in HKL routes and more empty seats. Because of that they are popular among the people living along the routes inside Helsinki.
Most regional lines that come to downtown end either on Rautatientori (from eastern Vantaa) and Elielinaukio (from western Vantaa and northern Espoo) next to the Central Railway Station or in the Kampin Keskus, a modern bus terminal (from southern Espoo).
The operating hours for the regional lines are similar to those of the internal lines, but there are departures not so often than with city lines.
The line numbers are composed of three digits and occasionally a letter accompanying them, which means a different route than the normal route.
Tram
The trams provide transportation in the downtown and areas close to it. The network is composed of 11 lines. Over 50 million trips are made with the trams each year.
The trams are managed and operated by HKL. Line numbers are 1-10 and for some an accompanying letter.
Metro
The metro is the backbone of the public transportation for East Helsinki. There is a single line with two branches. The whole system has 16 stations. One station is currently under construction and plans for several extensions are in the works.
The metro is managed and operated by HKL.
Commuter train
The commuter train system is the backbone for the areas northeast and northwest from downtown. The network reaches relatively far from Helsinki. It is managed by YTV and operated by VR.
Ferry
Helsinki has two ferry lines, both operated by Suomenlinnan Liikenne Oy. Ferries connect Suomenlinna to the mainland. The ferries are the only connection to the mainland for the residents of Suomenlinna, thought a tunnel for emergency vehicle access is in place.
Tickets
Zones
The public transportation system has two zones: internal and regional. Internal covers a single city and regional the whole Helsinki metropolitan area. The different areas are symbolised by different colours: Blue signifies Helsinki, green signifies Espoo and Kauniainen, red signifies Vantaa and purple signifies the entire metropolitan area.
Ticket types
The transport system offers a vast amount of different tickets and several ways to get them.
Single fare tickets can be bought from bus drivers, tram operators, automats, and by a text message. Each metro station, ferry stop, and train station is equipped with at least one ticket automat.
Most users of the public transport have a Travel Card (Matkakortti), an RFID card used as an electronic ticket. Users can load period (kausi) and value (arvo) on their cards. Period ticket offers unlimited travel for the dates paid for. Value is used to pay for one trip, which may contain changes. The price of a single trip is lower when paid with the travel card instead of buying a single fare ticket.
Internal single trip tickets are valid for one hour (for the eastern and north eastern feeder lines 80 minutes). For regional tickets the transfer time is 80 minutes.
Ticket prices
| Ticket Name | Helsinki | Region | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SINGLE TICKETS | Adult | Child | Adult | Child |
| Single ticket | 2.20 EUR | 1.10 EUR | 3.60 EUR | 1.80 EUR |
| Single ticket from a ticket machine | 2.00 EUR | 1.00 EUR | 3.60 EUR | 1.80 EUR |
| Tram ticket 1 | 2.00 EUR | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Tram ticket from a ticket machine 1 | 1.80 EUR | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Text message ticket 2 | 2.00 EUR | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Nigthtime single ticket (2.00–4.30) | 3.30 EUR | 3.30 EUR | 5.00 EUR | 5.00 EUR |
| TRAVEL CARD VALUE TICKETS | Adult | Child | Adult | Child |
| Value ticket | 1.80 EUR | 0.74 EUR | 3.10 EUR | 1.55 EUR |
| Tram ticket 1 | 1.35 EUR | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Nighttime value ticket (2.00–4.30) | 2.64 EUR | 2.64 EUR | 4.30 EUR | 4.30 EUR |
| Value ticket, discount group 1 3 | 1.35 EUR | N/A | 2.33 EUR | N/A |
| Value ticket discount group 2 4 | 0.90 EUR | N/A | 1.55 EUR | N/A |
| TRAVEL CARD TRAVEL PERIOD | Adult | Child | Adult | Child |
| 14 days | 21.40 EUR | 9.10 EUR | 41.40 EUR | 20.90 EUR |
| Price per extra day | 1.22 EUR | 0.51 EUR | 2.37 EUR | 1.18 EUR |
| Multi-user 14 days | 34.60 EUR | 17.30 EUR | 57.10 EUR | 28.70 EUR |
| Price per extra day, multi-user | 1.98 EUR | 0.99 EUR | 3.27 EUR | 1.63 EUR |
| 14 days, discount group 1 3 | 16.00 EUR | N/A | 31.10 EUR | N/A |
| Price per extra day, discount group 1 3 | 0.99 EUR | N/A | 1.63 EUR | N/A |
| 14 days, discount group 2 4 | 10.80 EUR | N/A | 20.90 EUR | N/A |
| Price per extra day, discount group 2 4 | 0.61 EUR | N/A | 1.18 EUR | N/A |
| TOURIST TICKETS | Adult | Child | Adult | Child |
| 1 day | 6.00 EUR | 3.00 EUR | 10.00 EUR | 5.00 EUR |
| 3 days | 12.00 EUR | 6.00 EUR | 20.00 EUR | 10.00 EUR |
| 5 days | 18.00 EUR | 9.00 EUR | 30.00 EUR | 15.00 EUR |
- 1 Transfer allowed only to other tram lines.
- 2 Valid only on metro, local trains, trams, ferries, eastern feeder lines and on bus lines 15, and 15A. Between 2.00 and 4.30 the price is 3.00 EUR.
- 3 Physically challenged and some pensioners.
- 4 Students and some pensioners.
For the transportation system, a child is anyone aged 7-16. Anyone under the age of 7 may ride for free. Adults with children aged 0-7 in a pram or carriage may travel for free. Blind people and veterans that took part in the action are eligible for free travel.
Fare collection
The transport system uses the proof-of-payment approach for fare collection for the metro, local trains, trams and ferries. In the buses the driver checks the tickets as passenger step in. Ticket controllers check tickets randomly and a penalty fee of 66 EUR and a price of a single ticket is charged from any passenger without a valid ticket. If a passenger has forgotten his/her Travel Card with valid travel period, the passenger may later visit a service point of the transport company and will not have to pay the penalty fee.