Bus services along the western section of the Metro line are replaced by feeder services to Metro Stations, just like in East Helsinki since the 1980s. The changes to the bus network are the biggest in the region since the opening of the original Metro line and they affect the public transport routes of over 200,000 people.
In Espoo, bus routes that until now went to the Kamppi terminal in Helsinki, start terminating Matinkylä or Tapiola, from where passengers will continue to Helsinki by metro.
In addition, there will be changes to bus services within Espoo, with improved crosstown services between Metro stations and the coastal line. In addition, some of the bus routes serving Kauniainen are affected.
The key interchange in Espoo is the Matinkylä bus terminal located in the same building as the Iso Omena shopping center and Matinkylä Metro Station. In Tapiola, temporary arrangements will remain in place until the completion of the new bus terminal in early 2019.
In Lauttasaari, all buses will run to or via Lauttasaari Metro Station. Direct bus services will continue to operate to Erottaja and Ruoholahti. Bus routes will change in Lehtisaari and Kuusisaari.
Regional bus routes currently running from Kirkkonummi to Kamppi in Helsinki will terminate at Matinkylä bus terminal during the Metro operating hours.
Night buses to South Espoo will continue to operate from the Kamppi terminal outside the Metro operating hours.
HSL staff to assist passengers at stations
HSL staff will be assisting passengers at Metro Stations on 3-4 January and on 8-9 January. Staff will be available at Tapiola, Matinkylä, Niittykumpu, Lauttasaari and Kamppi 6.30am-6.30pm.
In addition, HSL’s public transport planners will be at Tapiola, Matinkylä, Niittykumpu and Lauttasaari Metro Stations on 3 January and 8 January 6.30am-6.30pm to answer passengers’ questions about the new bus routes. The information points will be located in the Metro Station ticketing halls, at Lauttasaari in the ticketing hall located in the shopping center side of the station.
Allow extra time for your journey, check your route in advance
The new bus routes will roll out tomorrow morning, 3 January. The routes are new not only to passengers but also to bus drivers. We advise you to allow some extra time for your journey, although we aim for services to run smoothly right from the start.
Check your new route in advance, e.g. using HSL’s Journey Planner (reittiopas.fi). In addition, information is available at HSL's website. An information bulletin (in Finnish, with English summary) was delivered to all households in the area affected in December.