The voltage will be increased between 9pm and midnight. During this time, only trams 7T, 8, 8H, 8T and 9T will run in central Helsinki. The trams will operate on the following diversion routes:
Tram 7T
- Katajanokan terminaali (Katajanokka Terminal) – Päärautatieasema (Central Railway Station) – Länsiterminaali (West terminal)
- The last service from the West Terminal will depart at 11.02pm.
- The last service from the Katajanokka Terminal will depart at 11.29pm.
Due to a public event taking place on Saturday, tram 7T will not run from Kruununhaka via Liisankatu and Snellmaninkatu after 6pm. Between the Central Railway Station and Ritarikatu, the tram will run via Mikonkatu and Aleksanterinkatu.
Trams 8, 8T and 8H
Between 9pm and midnight on Saturday, trams 8 and 8H will only run between Ooppera and Jätkäsaari. The trams will not serve the section of route between Ooppera and Arabia.
- Tram 8: Ooppera–Jätkäsaari
- Tram 8H: Jätkäsaari–Ooppera
Starting at 9.46pm, the tram will run from Jätkäsaari towards Ooppera under route number 8H. Additionally, some services from Ooppera will run to the West Terminal under route number 8T. The last service on route 8T from Ooppera to the West Terminal will depart at 11.31pm.
- Tram 8T: Ooppera–West Terminal
Tram 9T
Between 9pm and midnight on Saturday, tram 9T will also run to southern central Helsinki in addition to the West Terminal and Helsinki city center.
- Between 8.30pm and 10.40pm, tram 9T will run via the West Terminal, Kamppi, Mannerheimintie, Viiskulma, and Telakkakatu.
- From Telakkakatu back to the West Terminal, tram 9T will run via Viiskulma, Mannerheimintie, Kamppi, and the West Terminal from 8.55pm to 10.54pm.
- From the West Terminal, tram 9T will serve the following route between 10.28pm and 11.30pm: Länsiterminaali (West Terminal) - Kamppi -Päärautatieasema (Central Railway Station) - Kauppatori (Market Square) - Olympiaterminaali (Olympia Terminal) - Tehtaankatu - Telakkakatu. The last service from the West Terminal will depart at 11.04pm.
- Tram 9T will run from Telakkakatu towards the West Terminal via the Olympia Terminal between 10.44pm and midnight. The last service from Telakkakatu will depart at 11.32pm.
Other public transport links during the service disruption
No trams will operate in central Helsinki between midnight and 7am. Here are examples of bus routes that you can use instead of trams during the service disruption:
- Route 20 Eira-Punavuori-Kamppi-Munkkivuori
- Route 23 Rautatientori-Pasila-Pirkkola
- Route 30 Eira-Kamppi-Munkkiniemi-Konala-Malminkartano-Myyrmäki
- Route 40 Elielinaukio-Haaga-Kannelmäki
- Route 600 Rautatientori-Sörnäinen-Kartanonkoski-Lentoasema
Bus routes 20 and 30 run from Eira via Fredrikinkatu to Kamppi, and then continue via Runeberginkatu and Topeliuksenkatu to Meilahti and onward to Munkkiniemi.
Bus route 23 runs via Hakaniemi, Kallio and Pasila to Ilmala.
Bus route 40 runs along Mannerheimintie to Haaga, and bus route 600 operates via Hakaniemi and Sörnäinen to Mäkelänkatu.
The HSL Journey Planner will show you the correct routes also during the service disruption. You can already search for alternative routes. The disruption will not affect the operation of light rail 15. In addition, all ferries, commuter trains, buses and the Metro will operate a normal service.
NB! No trams or buses run to Jätkäsaari and Katajanokka on the night of Saturday/Sunday between midnight and 7am.
The trams are expected to resume service at 7am on Sunday, 14 September.
Buses 20 and 30 from Eira to Kamppi and Meilahti
- From Eira and Punavuori, you can take night bus 20N or 30N to Kamppi. From Kamppi, buses to Töölö and Meilahti depart approximately every 10–15 minutes after 11pm until 4.30am. The first Sunday morning buses depart from Eira after 5am.
Please note that during night time passengers can only board trunk route buses through the front door and show their ticket to the driver or purchase one using contactless payment or their HSL card at the card reader.
Increasing the voltage will harmonize the electricity distribution network
Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd will increase the operating voltage of the inner-city tramway from the 600-volt direct current (VDC) to 750 VDC, which will harmonize the electricity distribution network. The higher voltage will also correspond with that of the newer tramways, such as the Kruunusillat light rail. Light rail line 15 has also operated on the higher 750 VDC voltage since the beginning.
By increasing the voltage, the overhead contact line network will become more stable and energy efficient as a result of a decrease in energy loss. A higher overhead line voltage also allows for a wider spacing between power supply stations. In addition, the power grid will also be able to deliver more energy, which supports the expanding tram service network as well the increasing number of newer rolling stock.
The changes to the tramway power supply systems require a brief service disruption, which will take place on the night of Saturday, 13 September. In addition to the above-mentioned disruption, the changes will not cause any other disruptions for passengers.
In order to prepare for the increase in operating voltage, Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd has already carried out and will continue to execute preparatory measures in the terms of the tramway infrastructure and tram fleet. For instance, changes have been made to the components of articulated trams. A similar change will be made to the Artic trams by means a software update during the service disruption.