Frequently asked questions about the Koskela depot project
Basic information about the project
The Koskela depot renewal project will improve the efficiency and safety of depot operations and ensure that the services will stay reliable and meet the demands of rapidly growing urban traffic. The key reasons for renewing the Koskela depot are:
- increasing passenger numbers and an anticipated expansion of tram traffic
- the modern maintenance and repair facilities and upgraded technology required by new trams
- improving the energy efficiency of the facilities during use
- ensuring the safety of the depot
- improving the ecological functionality of the depot and its surroundings.
The Koskela depot is part of a broader tram depot development plan that involves preparing for increased tram traffic in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.
The current depot will be replaced with a new one. The project also involves overhauling the track maintenance facilities connected to the depot. There will not be enough space for the track repair workshop of the current depot at the new depot, so separate facilities will be built for it in Kivikko.
Upon completion, the Koskela depot will serve as another main depot for tram traffic in Helsinki alongside the Ruskeasuo depot commissioned in 2024.
Construction will begin in January 2025 with the demolition of the old depot. However, preparations for the demolition work have already begun with preconstruction work since the summer and autumn of 2024.
The preconstruction work being carried out involves procedures such as relocating the stormwater pipeline parallel to Koskelantie, demolishing one storage building by Koskelantie, and transferring technology to prepare for the demolition work, e.g. disconnecting HVACEA equipment. The preconstruction work will facilitate a successful start to the demolition and construction phase. The total duration of the preconstruction work will be from 3 June to 30 November 2024.
The functions of the current Koskela depot with regard to traffic operations and equipment maintenance will be transferred to the Ruskeasuo depot commissioned in late 2024. Track maintenance operations will be transferred to temporary facilities in the arched halls for the duration of the project. There is not enough space for the current track repair workshop at the new depot, so new facilities will be built for it in Kivikko.
The old depot building will be demolished. The building itself is not protected in the detailed plan.
By contrast, the arched hall on the Koskela depot plot and the residential building known as Ananastalo will not be demolished. They have been designated as buildings valuable to the urban landscape and to be protected. The architectural modelling, the form and the roof surfaces of the buildings, as well as the glass brick surfaces of the ends, will be preserved. In the new detailed plan currently being drafted, they will be designated as business buildings, and the functions of the depot will be separated into their own block area.
The Koskela depot was built in 1951–1953. Since its completion, it has served as an important part of the traffic infrastructure of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, and the depot has seen many technological upgrades and changes to meet the demands of the growing city. However, the operations of the Koskela depot have changed and the area has developed over the years. Even though the depot has adjusted to the demanding changes of growing and modernised tram traffic, the building itself and its technology have reached the end of their service life after 80 years of service. Renovating the ageing building to meet the needs of developing urban traffic would not be cost-effective or sustainable in the long term.
You can read more about the interesting history of the Koskela depot here (in Finnish).
In a project alliance, the client and the service providers plan and implement the project through a joint organisation, sharing the risks and opportunities involved. The alliance model is often used in large-scale, extensive and complex projects, as it improves risk management and facilitates flexible resourcing and effective utilisation of all parties’ know-how and experience. The alliance model is not new in Finland, but the implementation of a project as a collaboration between two alliances is. The aim is to ensure great innovation potential and strong resources for carrying out the project. The innovations and new modes of operation created during the project will also benefit future tramway projects coming through the alliance programme.
The service provider of the project is an alliance named Akseli, consisting of Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd as the client, Skanska Oy as the main implementer, and Sweco Finland Oy, Sipti Infra Oy, Rejlers Rakentaminen Oy and Arkkitehtityöhuone APRT Oy as the planning and design parties.
The new construction project will begin with the demolition of the old depot in January 2025. The construction work will last until 2028, which is the estimated time of completion of the new depot. The new Koskela depot is expected to be commissioned in 2029.
Responsibility and environmental perspectives
The new Koskela depot will have a long lifespan, as we are building it to last a hundred years. As part of a sustainable urban environment, the depot will meet the demands of rapidly increasing emission-free tram traffic and sustainable transport among Helsinki residents.
The Akseli alliance implementing the Koskela depot project is committed to acting as a pioneer in environmental responsibility. This means that all the decisions in the project are made based on knowledge and all solutions are implemented in an environmentally sustainable manner.
The alliance is implementing sustainable development by keeping the carbon footprint of the project small, recycling dismantled building parts and materials, improving the ecological functionality of the area and its surroundings, and using public funds responsibly and transparently. The aim is for the project to be granted the BREEAM Outstanding certificate.
The environmental indicators of the project have been set at a high target level, and the environmental goals have been set based on the EU taxonomy and the BREEAM standards, as well as the Carbon-Neutral Urban Transport (Hilkka) programme.
The objectives of the project support Metropolitan Area Transport’s environmental responsibility objectives and serve as a pilot site for greenhouse gas emission mitigation steering as part of the implementation of the Hilkka programme.
The depot will be a broad area visible to residents on Kustaa Vaasan tie, Koskelantie and Valtimontie alike. The objective of the project is to create a more pleasant and sustainable urban environment in the area than before. The new building will feature a green roof, the vegetation on which will support biodiversity in the area and retain rainwater. When selecting vegetation for the yard area, plant species typical of Helsinki will be favoured and large-scale bush plantings avoided. The plot will also feature a rain garden and a stormwater basin.
Green areas reduce the heat island phenomenon in the urban area, improve air quality and improve water absorption, in turn strengthening the City’s ability to adapt to challenges such as extreme weather conditions.
Expanding rail traffic and developing depot operations is important from the perspective of traffic emissions and urban development. However, it has its flipside, as construction always causes an enormous temporary carbon spike. Carbon emissions must be reduced through ambitious measures in order for us to be able to achieve the national climate objectives, as well as those of the cities of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.
Despite the carbon spike caused by the construction work, the Koskela depot project will improve the operating conditions of tram traffic throughout the entire metropolitan area, increase capacity and contribute to facilitating the sustainable growth of cleaner public transport using environmentally certified energy for decades to come.
The Koskela depot project is aiming at a carbon footprint as small as possible. The carbon management model used in the project will ensure that all the choices made are as low-emission as possible. All carbon dioxide emissions generated during the project will be calculated and taken into account in decision-making and daily management alike.
The City’s aim is to become carbon-neutral by 2030. In practice, this means that the aim is to reduce the City’s emissions by at least 80% through emission reduction measures, whereby up to 20% can be compensated for. This objective only pertains to direct emissions (Scope 1 and 2), with 1990 set as the reference year. The carbon footprint minimisation objective of the Koskela depot project will support Helsinki’s carbon neutrality objectives and be counted as part of the City’s direct emissions.
Communication and interaction
The main implementer, Skanska, together with the communication department of the project. You can contact the communication department of the project by email at koskelanvarikko@skanska.fi.
You can find more information about the project on its own website, our bulletins and Metropolitan Area Transport’s Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram accounts.
Unfortunately, demolition and construction work always causes unavoidable temporary noise disturbances to people living and moving about in the area. The greatest source of noise disturbances will be blasting and pile driving work carried out at the worksite. Local residents will always be informed of any temporary noise disturbances caused by blasting and pile driving work and their duration in advance.
Local residents and properties will be informed by means of electronic and printed neighbourhood bulletins delivered to building managers or directly to residents’ homes. If necessary, notice of blasting work can also be given in advance by text message. People moving about in the area will be informed through exceptional traffic arrangements and signs.
Because the depot area is not a public urban space, residents have not been invited to participate in the development of the depot area. Metropolitan Area Transport is leasing the land from the City of Helsinki, and the area is currently designated for depot operations in the detailed plan. By contrast, depot workers and users have been closely involved in the development of planning and functionality solutions for the new depot.
You can send any feedback or questions regarding the new Koskela depot project by email to koskelanvarikko@skanska.fi. We will read everyone’s feedback and reply as soon as we can.