Historic renewal of metro in Helsinki
The updating of the metro’s ageing systems ensures sufficient capacity and improves reliability.
The Helsinki Metro is simple and easy to use: trains run either east or west. Carrying up to hundreds of thousands of passengers every day, the metro is a vital part of the transportation system in the Helsinki metropolitan area.
Many of the metro’s core systems date back more than 40 years and are approaching the end of their lifecycle. To ensure safe, reliable, and smooth metro operations in the future, these systems must be renewed.
The METKA project (Metro Capacity and Reliability Improvement Project) replaces aging technology with modern, more robust systems. Semi-automated operations will make train movements more consistent and provide the necessary conditions for a more frequent metro service.
Project phases
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Sustainable way to increase capacity
The proposed 25% capacity increase is equivalent to three new light rail lines, ten bus routes with their required road capacity, or an additional motorway lane.
It is significantly more cost-effective than any of these alternatives. The increase will be achieved entirely without building new infrastructure, which makes the project’s carbon footprint much smaller.
Project background
The current traffic control system, in particular, needs to be updated to ensure the reliable and safe operation of the metro in the future as well. Parts of the system that are now being updated include the train control system and track circuits.
The updating of the train control system will make it possible to increase the number of passengers of the metro by enabling shorter headways between trains than are currently possible. Shortening the headway between trains and other capacity-increasing measures are important, as transport forecasts indicate that the metro’s number of passengers will continue to increase. The current capacity of the metro is simply not enough to meet the increasing demand.
Measures for improving capacity and reliability
One of the key measures for ensuring the safe and reliable operation of the metro is the updating of the train control system. The train control system is essential for ensuring the safety of the metro system, as it prevents the trains from speeding and colliding with one another.
The aim is to replace the current automatic train stop system with an automatic train control (ATC) system. It should be noted, however, that this does not mean that the metro will be shifting to fully automated operation, as the new system will still require the presence of a driver in the cab. The possible further development of the entire metro’s traffic control system is also being taken into account in the update project.
Another important measure is the replacement of the track circuits. Track circuits detect the locations of metro trains along the track; without them, safe operation would be impossible. Replacing the current circuits is essential, as there are no longer spare parts available for them, in addition to which the number of technicians who can repair them is limited.
The current headway of 2.5 minutes during peak hours will not be sufficient to respond to the needs of the growing number of passengers in the future. A key measure for increasing capacity is to shorten the headway between trains. This will only be possible by updating systems, in addition to which more trains will of course be required as well. These investments will be made over the span of approximately ten years.
The metro capacity will also be improved through other means, such as developing the guidance provided at the stations and on the trains. The guidance systems will be tested and implemented gradually if they prove to be functional. During autumn 2022, we will be testing whether passenger flow through metro stations could be improved and sped up by changing the directions of escalators. In addition to this, the project will involve steering passengers to the trains that have the most space and to stand more precisely where the doors of the train will stop.
More information
- Metro to be modernised in the Helsinki metropolitan area – collaboration with contractors to begin – Kaupunkiliikenne Oy
- ATC procurement (1H22), Invitation to Participate Introductio
- Implementation of an Automatic Train Control System Project mandate (pdf)
- Accessible version of the Project mandate (pdf). Please notice that the accessible version do not contain all the tables, images and attachments.
- METKA Cellular Pilot Final Results and Recommendations White Paper (pdf).
- Accessible version of the Cellular Pilot Results (pdf). Please notice that the accessible version do not contain all the tables, images and attachments.
- Helsinki Metro’s cellular network pilot project – results and observations (IRSE News 306 December 2023)
Contact information
Street address: Verkkosaarenkatu 5, Helsinki
Media inquiries: emma.rahikainen@kaupunkiliikenne.fi