Trams and metro trains now run on hydropower

In Helsinki, the metro and trams are now powered by electricity produced by Finnish hydropower. In other words,  rail travel does not produce carbon emissions. Rail transport is an environmentally-sustainable mode of transport, and now even more environmentally-friendly.

The choices of HKL, the operator of Helsinki’s tram and metro services, and the service procurer HSL affect the way the electricity needed in rail transport is produced as well as how much energy is consumed on the whole.

HKL and HSL want to highlight the environmental impacts of rail services and make passengers aware of them. To this end, we have together opened a website at www.matkustapuhtaasti.fi providing passenger and other interest parties with an information package on environmental issues related to rail transport. You may also spot a tram decorated with water motifs on the streets of Helsinki.

In addition to choosing electricity produced in an eco-friendly way, energy is saved by training drivers in energy-efficient driving and by procuring new, energy-efficient vehicles. For example, energy-efficiency has played a key role in the planning of the new trams to be introduced in Helsinki. For example, the large amount of energy generated by braking will be used for heating the trams in winter, while in summer, spectrally selective windows reduce the heating effect of the sun and thus, less energy is needed for cooling. 

A prototype of the new tram will be on display in the HI Design Exhibition held at the Cable Factory in the summer. The exhibition is part of the Helsinki 2012 World Design Capital program.

HSL aims to increase the share of public transport in order to reduce carbon emissions from traffic.  Development of rail services is a key consideration in the planning of Helsinki region public transport. Rail services in the region will significantly increase in the coming years with the completion of the Ring Rail Line and West Metro. 

In the near future, the route of tram 9 will be extended from the Central Railway Station via Kamppi to Länsisatama (West Harbour). This will take place in the autumn. The route change will significantly improve transport connections to the heavily congested Länsisatama.