The planning for changes has focused on maintaining effective connections to schools and ensuring that public transport continues to provide access to healthcare services and workplaces in the future. These changes aim to achieve cost savings while ensuring that public transport services do not significantly deteriorate.
As part of the route network review, we conducted two surveys for residents living in the planning area in December 2024. We received 2,600 responses, which helped us to assess residents’ travel needs and use of public transport. The responses were used for more detailed planning of the changes.
We will monitor how the route changes affect residents' use of public transport and review any feedback regarding these changes. Additionally, we will look into ways to improve public transport links between North Espoo and Meilahti to ensure smooth journeys to educational institutions and workplaces on both weekdays and weekends.
The following cost-effective service improvements will be made:
- About half of the bus services between Leppävaara and Kalajärvi will be rerouted via Lintuvaara, Hämevaara, Pähkinärinne, and Hämeenkylä. The new route will be faster, reducing travel times by approximately seven minutes. Public transport services from Leppävaara to Hämevaara and Järvenperä will remain at the current level.
- Bus routes 206, 225, 227 and 236B, as well as 130N and 140N, will be merged into two new routes: 227 and 237. Bus route 227 will operate daily from approximately 6am to 11pm. It will run from Leppävaara via Nuijala, Kera, Viherlaaksonranta, Lippajärvi, and Myllykylä to Jorvi. Bus route 237 will serve journeys for errands, school travel, and commutes to Högnäs. With the new route, evening and weekend bus services will become available to Nuijala and Viherlaakso.
- Bus services between Espoon keskus and Nuuksio will be rearranged and provided by routes 243, 244 and 245. A new bus route, 247, will be introduced to improve connections to schools and services in Siikajärvi.
- There will be minor changes to bus routes 215 and 548 in Laaksolahti.
We will also adjust the service supply to demand:
- Bus route 348 (from Kalajärvi to Rinnekoti via Lahnus School and Rödskogs skola) will be withdrawn and replaced by bus 345K. Bus route 348 has been the most expensive bus service in Espoo in terms of cost per passenger. The change to bus route 345 can be made at a little extra cost. The change will also create a direct connection between Helsinki city center and Röylä a few times a day.
- The number of services and service frequency of bus routes 243, 244, 245, 246 and 582 will be reviewed, especially during late evenings and weekends when passenger numbers are low.
- Bus routes 214 and 215 will be merged into bus route 214A for late evening and weekend morning services. The services on routes 214 and 215 have only had a few passengers per service at quiet times. Bus route 214A will operate in the evening from 9.45pm, running every 20–30 minutes. On Saturday mornings, the bus will run every 30 minutes until around 9am. On Sunday mornings, the bus will run every 30 minutes until around 10am. The timetables for bus routes 214, 241A and 215 will be synchronized with train schedules in Leppävaara.
The changes to bus routes and timetables will decrease operating costs by approximately EUR 980,000 per year. The changes will take effect on 11 August 2025.