Metro service to be suspended in the Vuosaari fork

All in all, the metro encompasses numerous systems, properties, technologies, bridges, tracks and much more. In order to complete as many improvements as possible during the service interruption, we will execute several projects in the Vuosaari metro fork at the same time.

In addition to the repairs to the Vuosaari metro bridge, the Vuosaari metro station will be renovated. Lighting will be renewed on the Rastila metro station, rail switches will be renewed in the Itäkeskus area and track circuits will be renewed in the Vuosaari metro fork, to name a few. Read more about the projects and the progress of the work on this page.

A special review of the Vuosaari metro bridge was carried out in 2022, which found that the bridge needs to be repaired. It became apparent quite quickly that we cannot repair the bridge without taking apart the metro tracks and their superstructures. The suspension is necessary to be able to carry out quality work and extend the life cycle of the bridge long into the future.

In addition to this, without the suspension, the duration of the work would be prolonged to cover two summer periods and costs would increase significantly, meaning that the suspension also minimises inconvenience to the passengers.

The bridge is 28 years old, and this will be the first time it is renovated extensively. This bridge project will be more challenging than the Länsimäki metro bridge project carried out in Mellunmäki in summer 2024, because some of the major work must be conducted under water.

In the renovation of the Vuosaari metro bridge, the life cycle of the bridge is extended by repairing the cracks in the bridge’s concrete structures and the water leaks in the deck.

Additionally, the water insulation and drainage systems of the bridge are replaced so that the water does not damage the bridge in the future. If water were to damage the load-bearing structure of the bridge, it would lose its carrying capacity as it crumbles.

The pillars in the sea will either be covered by caissons or we will need to carry out dives around the pillars. Caissons, or coffers, are structures immersed into the bottom of the water. They contain compressed air and are open at the bottom, but still watertight. This allows for the pillars in the water to be repaired and protected against the effects of seawater.

The platform area of the Vuosaari metro station will be improved by repairing its heating system and installing accessibility guidance into the floor tiles. The escalator, platform waterproofing, lighting and technical systems of the metro station will also be renewed.

These measures aim to improve the safety, functionality, comfort and energy efficiency of the Vuosaari metro station.

The Vuosaari metro station was commissioned in 1998, and approximately 21,000 people use it daily. Since its completion, no major repairs have been carried out at the station with the exception of the lift renovation in 2019.

Track circuit replacement

The track circuit technology, which is at the end of its life cycle, used for locating trains on the trunk metro line will be replaced with more modern axle counting technology.

This is a safety device that allows for shortening the service frequency and monitoring the locations of trains. The current devices have been in use since the metro was introduced.

The objective of the project is to ensure the continuity of metro services at the required level while ensuring that the service is safe, there are minimal disruptions and faults are repaired as soon as possible.

All light fixtures in the passenger traffic areas in the Rastila metro station will be replaced with energy-saving LED lights, which will be remote-controlled. The massive lighting ramps will remain on the platform, but the lights inside them will be renewed. Camera cabling, cameras and loudspeakers will also be renewed.

The spikes used to ward off pigeons will be renewed in connection with the lighting ramp renovation work on the platform to prevent pigeons from nesting in the platform area.​

There are several metro switches to the west of the Itäkeskus metro station. Some of the switches were replaced in 2021, but the switches that were not replaced at that time are more than 40 years old and at the end of their life cycle. Nine switches and one diamond will be replaced in summer 2025. This will improve transport safety and efficiency by preventing switch faults.

The switch replacements can be carried out during the service interruptions caused by the Vuosaari metro bridge renovation. The work may cause longer metro service intervals during summer weekends. The work will be efficient, however, because instead of the usual night-time work, we will be able to work during all hours of the day.

The metro improvement projects in summer 2025 will be carried out by Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd and Helsinki City Transport. HSL will be in charge of organising exceptional transport and communicating about transport changes.