Accessibility

In addition to using the HSL app, contactless payment, or an HSL card, you can purchase single tickets from ticket machines at stations and at sales points, such as R-kiosks and S Group stores. On commuter trains, card readers are located near the doors.

Wait for your train on the platform. As a rule, there are no announcements at stations. However,  announcements are made in the event of service changes or disruptions.

All HSL area commuter trains are low-floor.

In addition, almost all commuter trains that operate beyond the HSL area (R, T, D, and Z trains) are low-floor. When using VR’s route search, you can filter the results to show only accessible services. To do this, select Filter search results and then tick the box Only show accessible trains.

Almost all station platforms in the HSL area are level with the commuter train floors, making boarding easy also for passengers using mobility aids.

• Kauniainen and Kera are the only stations without accessible platforms.
• Platform 3 at Kirkkonummi station is the only platform higher than the commuter train floor.
• At Siuntio station, when arriving from the direction of Helsinki, only the first carriage is level with the platform. Siuntio station does not meet accessibility standards because the access routes to and from the platform are steeper than usual.

Carriages with a multifunctional area are marked with a wheelchair symbol.These areas are located in the middle of the train and provide accessible spaces. On some commuter trains, all seats between the doors in the middle section of the carriage are markedfor priority use.

The wheelchair symbol also appears on the button that activates the ramp between the train and the platform, reducing the gap between them.

All trains have audio announcements and digital information screens.

All carriages with a multifunctional area are equipped with an intercom system that allows passengers to speak directly to the train driver. The driver can be contacted by pressing the SOS button on the phone. The button is located both near the wheelchair spaces and next to the train doors.

Pressing the button also opens a video connection, allowing the driver to see inside the carriage. You can use the button, for example, to inform the driver that you will be getting off at the next station, so that extra time can be allowed for disembarking if needed.

In addition to the intercom, signs inside the carriages display the phone number of the train security control room, which can be contacted in case of emergency.

In addition to using the HSL app, contactless payment or an HSL card, you can purchase tickets at sales points, such as R-kiosks and S Group stores. On buses, card readers are located inside the vehicle. When boarding an (orange) trunk route bus, you don’t need to show your season ticket on your HSL card or your ticket in the HSL app to the driver.

Wait for your bus at a stop or inside a terminal. Most bus stops served by HSL public transport have seating.

All buses on HSL public transport are low-floor. The buses have a kneeling capability that allows the vehicle to be lowered to reduce the step up from the pavement. If you need this function, press the button with a pram or wheelchair symbol.

At the middle doors, there is a manual ramp that can be deployed from the floor. If needed, the driver will assist you. Mobility scooters are not allowed on buses.

Accessible spaces are located near the middle doors. Wheelchairs and rollators can be placed in these spaces. There is a safety belt for wheelchairs, and newer buses also have a fold-down safety bar. Seats marked for priority use are located halfway between the middle doors and the front of the bus, at floor level.

All buses in the HSL area have digital information displays and audio announcements indicating the next stop.

In the Helsinki metropolitan area, there are also so-called neighborhood bus routes operated with low-floor minibuses. These routes are designed specifically for elderly passengers and passengers with reduced mobility. The driver will help you on and off the bus if you need assistance.

In addition to using the HSL app, contactless payment, or an HSL card, you can purchase single tickets at sales points, such as R-kiosks and S Group stores. Card readers are located inside the trams.

All trams are either fully or partly low-floor.As stop heights vary, there might be a gap or height difference between the curb and the tram.

Most trams have a ramp at the middle doors to assist with boarding and alighting. The ramp is manual and is stored next to the door.Press the button on the ramp to alert the driver to unlock it, after which it can be opened manually. The driver will assist you if needed.

If you need a little more time to get on and off the tram, press the button with a pram or wheelchair symbol so that the doors stay open longer. Mobility scooters are not allowed on trams.

All trams have audio announcements and digital displays indicating the next stop.

At the end of this page, there is a video on how to use the wheelchair ramp on Artic trams (in Finnish).

In addition to using the HSL app, contactless payment, or an HSL card, you can purchase tickets at sales points, such as R-kiosks and S Group stores. Card readers are located at Metro stations next to the escalators or lifts leading down to the platform.

Wait for your train on the platform. As a rule, there are no audio announcements at stations. However, announcements are made in the event of service changes or disruptions. The train's terminus is shown on the platform displays and on the destination sign at the front of the train. You can also see the arrival times and final destination of the next trains on the platform displays.

All Metro stations are accessible, and the trains are level with the platforms, providing easy access also for passengers using mobility aids.

Accessible spaces are located in the carriage marked with a bicycle symbol.Seats marked for priority use are located near the doors.

All trains have audio announcements and digital information displays. At Kalasatama and Itäkeskus Metro Stations, train doors open on the opposite side compared to other stations. A separate announcement is made accordingly.

Many stations have audio beacons at entrances and the doors leading to lifts to help visually impaired people to navigate the station.

Refurbished stations have also tactile and high-contrast markings.

In addition to using the HSL app, contactless payment, or an HSL card, you can purchase single tickets at sales points, such as R-kiosks and S Group stores. Card readers are located inside the trams.

Passenger information at light rail stops has been designed with consideration for special groups. An audible signal sounds at the stop when a tram is approaching. Stop shelters have buttons you can press to hear how many minutes remain until the next tram arrives. In the event of a service disruption, an automatic announcement is played without the need to press any buttons.

Light rail vehicles are fully low-floor and accessible. Stop platforms are level with the carriage floors. A tactile guidance strip guides visually impaired passengers to the multifunctional area in the middle of the light rail vehicle. The multifunctional area is marked with symbols above the door and LED strips next to the door.It has foldable seats and space for wheelchairs, rollators, prams and passengers traveling with a guide dog. The seats in this area are used on a first-come, first-served basis.

The light rail vehicles have audio announcements indicating the next stop. You can also follow the route on the digital displays inside the tram. Furthermore, arrows on the displays indicate the direction in which the doors will open.

The light rail stops at every stop, so there is no need to press a stop button. However, if you need a little more time to get off, you can press the gray button with a pram symbol or the blue button on the door. Pressing either of these buttons keeps the doors open longer.

Standard HSL tickets are valid on neighborhood buses. In addition to the HSL app and HSL card, single tickets can be bought from ticket machines at stations and at sales points such as R-kiosks and S Group stores. The card reader is located near the entrance.

Neighborhood route stops are marked with the route number.

Suomenlinna ferry

The ferries to Suomenlinna operated by HSL depart from Market Square and Katajanokka. When traveling to Suomenlinna, the most accessible option is the ferry departing from Market Square.

You can buy a ticket via the HSL app, using contactless payment, or with an HSL card. You can also purchase single tickets at sales points, such as R-kiosks and S Group stores.

In Suomenlinna, return tickets can be purchased only at card readers using contactless payment, via the HSL app, with the HSL card, or from the ticket machine located at the ferry pier. If the ticket machine is out of service, use contactless payment or the HSL app to buy a ticket for the return journey. If you are unable to use contactless payment, the HSL app, or the HSL card, we recommend purchasing a day ticket before your journey to Suomenlinna at the sales point on the Market Square.

The card readers are located at the ferry pier.

At the Market Square ferry pier, there is a heated waiting space with an accessible and step-free entry. The door to the waiting space opens manually. The space is open every day from 6am to 2.30am and has seats for passengers waiting for the ferry. The waiting room in the Jetty Barracks (Rantakasarmi) in Suomenlinna has an accessible toilet. There is also a ramp leading to the waiting room. The Jetty Barracks is open every day from 6am to 1.45am during the ferry’s operating hours. You can also wait for the ferry outside, at the ferry pier.

At the Market Square ferry pier, you need to go through the gate in order to access the ferry. The accessible gate is on the left when heading towards the ferry. The ferry’s personnel will open the gate for you. There is a gentle ramp leading to the ferry with a 2-cm-high threshold. When boarding the ferry in Suomenlinna, the ferry has a threshold that is 2 cm high. The path from the ferry is a flat sand-covered route. The accessible passenger area can be accessed through an electrically operated door.

Accessible spaces are located near the doors to the passenger compartment.

Disembarkation from the ferry takes place onto a level surface at both ends of the route. At the Market Square, the surface consists of cube paving stones, whereas Suomenlinna has a sand-covered surface.

For more information about accessibility in Suomenlinna, click here.

Kruunuvuorenranta ferry

You can buy a ticket via the HSL app, using contactless payment, with the HSL card, or at sales points, such as R-kiosks and S Group stores. The card reader is located inside the ferry.

At Meritullintori and Kruunuvuorenranta, the ferry waiting area is located outside, next to the ferry pier.

At Kruunuvuorenranta, there is a gentle ramp leading from the shore to the ferry pier. At Meritullintori and Kruunuvuorenranta, there are ramps for accessible boarding. The ferry’s personnel will assist you with accessible boarding onto the ferry.

The ferry is accessible. The accessible spaces are located on the lower passenger deck of the ferry. The toilet on the ferry is accessible.

Assistance may be needed to access the toilet, as the door does not have an automatic opener. The ferry’s personnel can provide assistance with accessible travel, if necessary.

Disembarkation from the ferry takes place onto a level surface at both ends of the route. At Meritullintori, the surface consists of cube paving stones and asphalt, whereas at Kruunuvuorenranta, there is a wooden pier leading to a sand-covered road.