HSL’s customers have actively commented on the transport service plan for 2015-2016. The plan was open for comments from 18 December 2014 to 14 January 2015.
“During one month, we received nearly 500 comments on the transport service plan via the HSL website. Customers’ comments have been taken into account when finalizing the plan. The largest number of comments was about routes 22, 23 and 231 running in Lintuvaara, Espoo and the withdrawal of route 516 in Vantaa,” says the Head of Route Network and Timetable Planning Group Arttu Kuukankorpi.
Along with comments on the transport service plan, customers have suggested increasing services, for example, on the Ring Rail Line and trunk route 560 at night as well as to ferry terminals in Helsinki and improving transport links to North Espoo and Kauklahti.
Vantaa bus network to be reorganized
When the Ring Rail Line opens, the current I and M trains will be replaced by I and P trains. I trains will run a loop from Helsinki to Tikkurila, Airport, Vantaankoski and via Huopalahti back to Helsinki. P trains will run the same loop clockwise. The Ring Rail Line trains will significantly improve public transport links to the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. I and P trains will also provide crosstown links between East and West Vantaa.
In mid-August, the bus network in Vantaa will undergo a complete reorganization. The routes, timetables and route numbers of bus services will change. A similar change will take place in Espoo when the West Metro starts to run in 2016 and the feeder route network is introduced. HSL has planned the reorganization of the Vantaa bus network in four planning projects for different areas of the city, on the basis of which a route network plan covering the whole of Vantaa has been drawn.
The Ring Rail Line train services and the bus route network form a coherent whole both in terms of the organization of services and costs. In summer 2013, HSL invited comments on the draft route network plan for Vantaa from its member municipalities. The route network plan has been modified on the basis of the comments to ensure an effective system of services and to keep the costs at the agreed level. The final timetables will be completed in May.
The change that prompted the greatest opposition was the withdrawal of route 516 (Hakaniemi-Maunula-Martinlaakso). The route is withdrawn because there are practical, frequent alternatives for the route, for example commuter trains and Helsinki internal route 51. Retaining the route running would require increased funding from the municipalities.
Trunk route between East Helsinki and Myyrmäki
Trunk route 560 (Rastila-Vuosaari-Mellunmäki-Kontula-Malmi-Paloheinä-Kuninkaantammi-Myyrmäki) will start running in August. The route will shorten crosstown journey times and provide an excellent link to the Ring Rail Line. The route will replace the current route 78 as well as some of Vuosaari Metro feeder services. The new route will also provide easy access to the Paloheinä recreation area. In a longer term, it is possible to extend the route from Myyrmäki to Matinkylä.
In Espoo, the most significant changes to bus routes will take place between South Espoo and Otaniemi, Munkkiniemi, Meilahti, Pasila and Hakaniemi. Route 231 will be replaced by changing the routes of feeder buses 22 and 23 in Vallikallio and Lintuvaara as well as by extending the operating hours of route 510. The night route 213N will be retained, although there will be minor changes to the route in Mäkkylä. Routes 503, 504 and 505 will be withdrawn in the autumn and replaced by a new route 551 Pasila–Meilahti–Westendinasema. Route 551 will run every 10 minutes during peak times Monday-Friday. Passengers will be able to transfer to route 551 from the Länsiväylä regional routes at Westendinasema and Karhusaarensolmu.
Positive comments were received on the decision to divide the neighborhood route 237 into routes 36 (Konala-Kannelmäki-Maununneva-Pirkkola) and 237 (Pajamäki-Mäkkylä-Leppävaara). The change enables improving transfer links from Mäkkylä to the Pitäjänmäki station and also improves the reliability of the route.
HSL is actively monitoring the operation of the bus routes in Sipoo and Kirkkonummi, which where reorganized in autumn 2014. The municipality of Kirkkonummi wishes to make savings in operating costs and HSL will seek solutions for this during spring 2015. In Kerava, the only significant change is the shortening of the route of bus 973 in Vantaa.
What is a transport service plan?
The annual transport service plan includes the key route and service level changes to be made. The annual plan is valid from the beginning of the coming summer timetable season to the end of the winter timetable season in the following year.
HSL has prepared the plan in cooperation with public transport experts of the municipalities, representatives of school authorities and operators. Residents have been able to participate by commenting on the plan online. The Executive Board of HSL approves the transport service plan. The changes in costs incurred by the plan are based on the financial and operational plan approved by the HSL General Meeting.
Transport service plan 2015-2016 (in Finnish)
Vantaa public transport network (in Finnish)