1st blog: Review of the West Helsinki route network begins
What is it about?
Once completed, new tram links will transform public transport in West Helsinki. Light rail line 14 will run from Kannelmäki via Lassila, Haaga, Munkkiniemi and Meilahti to the city center, serving as the main connection to downtown Helsinki. The new light rail line is also likely to affect the routes of existing tram services in the future.
We have started planning the West Helsinki bus route network for the time when the so-called West Helsinki light rail and other new sections of tramway in western Helsinki are operational in the early 2030s. With the introduction of the new tram connections, we will update the entire bus network in West Helsinki. Our planning takes into account smooth transfers between buses and trams, as well as versatile connections to schools, workplaces, local services, and leisure destinations.
We develop public transport for its users. That’s why understanding the needs and views of those who use the services is central to our planning. We actively use existing customer insights and collect additional information from residents in the planning area to deepen our understanding of travel needs in the area.
The West Helsinki Light Rail project is an urban development project that includes building and upgrading the tram network in western Helsinki. The project is managed by Infrastructure Programme Helsinki, which is an important partner in the West Helsinki route network review alongside local residents.
Main goals of the route network review
We will provide public transport links that meet the travel needs of as many people as possible in West Helsinki when the new tram services are operational.
We will create a cost-effective route network that makes the best use of the strengths and capacity of both existing and new public transport modes.
We will actively draw on a wide range of customer insights to design a route network that truly serves residents.
Bus routes included in the review
The planning area covers the neighborhoods of Punavuori and Eira, Töölö, Meilahti, Munkkiniemi, Munkkivuori, Haaga, Pitäjänmäki, Konala, Kannelmäki and Malminkartano.
Current bus routes under review include trunk routes 20, 30, 500, and 510, as well as bus routes 25, 37, 41, 42, 52, 57, 59, and 506. As planning progresses, changes may also be made to other bus routes, and the planned changes may also affect areas outside the planning area.
All current tram routes are included in the review.
Schedule
We began planning in early September 2025 by defining the goals and starting points for the review, examining background data, and reviewing existing customer insights.
Background data includes population and job numbers in the area, as well as the results of a travel habit survey conducted in 2024. The survey provides a comprehensive picture of current travel needs and residents’ preferences for future connections.
During the remainder of 2025, we will draft the first version of the route network. At the same time, we will engage residents and collect feedback to support the planning.
Our goal is to complete the review in spring 2026. The changes decided based on the review will be fully implemented in the early 2030s when the West Helsinki light rail is operational.
Key constraints
Our starting point is that operating costs will not increase. This means we aim to make changes by reorganizing existing routes so that costs remain at current levels.
What will happen in the 2030s?
As light rail line 14 will be the primary connection to Helsinki city center, the need for direct bus services to downtown will decrease. By providing smooth connections to trams and other public transport modes, we can offer residents more diverse connections to key destinations. The alignment of the West Helsinki light rail has already been established in earlier plans, which sets certain constraints for bus network planning. For example, the City of Helsinki’s general plan, published in 2020, includes guidelines for infrastructure that also affect bus network planning.
Since the route of light rail 14 will cover most of the routes of trunk buses 20 and 30, these routes will be discontinued. Bus services to the city center will mainly run via Mannerheimintie and Mechelininkatu, as the goal is to reserve Topeliuksenkatu and Runeberginkatu mainly for tram services.
Uncertainties
The review focuses on a situation more than five years in the future. This long timeframe means that we will now concentrate on planning connections and routes, while detailed timetables will be prepared closer to the implementation.
Urban development in West Helsinki creates uncertainties for future route network planning. For example, the bus termini at Elielinaukio are planned to be relocated to Kamppi in the near future. This means that the number of routes serving Kamppi will need to be critically assessed to ensure the terminal’s functionality and sufficient capacity in the future.
Planning must also address alternative locations for bus termini in the western parts of the central city and identify a replacement for the Munkkiniemenaukio terminus, which, based on current information, will be removed from service due to construction.
What customer insight do we already have about the planning area?
As a starting point for planning, we use data on current travel habits in the area. This includes, for example, information about where people travel by public transport, which routes they use, and where they would like better connections.
An extensive travel habit survey was conducted across the HSL area in spring 2024. The results of this survey serve as an important source of background information for the route network review. The survey results show where residents and public transport users currently travel in their daily lives and where they would like to travel.
To support planning, we have also used results from other surveys and studies carried out in the area in recent years, as well as customer experience data that we collect several times a year.
Other background data includes:
- Information on land use and the transport network in the planning area and their development plans
- The number and location of residents, jobs and services as well as future changes to the transport network
- Analysis of current travel patterns in the area: directions of journeys made in the area, use of public transport at different times of day, number of boardings, and use of public transport compared to other modes of transport
How can you participate and follow the progress of planning?
We will share updates on the progress of planning here and through our other channels. We have now moved from reviewing background data and drawing conclusions to drafting the first version of the route network.
In developing the draft, we have used existing comprehensive customer insights. We will also conduct a survey of residents and public transport users in the planning area to gain a more detailed understanding that complements existing data. Additional engagement methods may be used as needed.
We will provide more information about participation opportunities as the work progresses, so stay tuned!
You can easily receive information about this review and other projects directly by email. Accept invitations to surveys in the HSL app under More → Settings → Notifications and email.
We engage customers and HSL area residents in projects, product development, planning and surveys almost every month. By following our communications, you can take part in our development projects.
You can also leave feedback through our feedback system and customer service.