Commuters in the Finnish capital woke up to shorter journey times this morning as tram routes 3, 6, 7 and 9 once again crossed the Pitkäsilta bridge into Hakaniemi for the first time since March. Street works on Siltasaarenkatu, part of the €326-million Kruunusillat light-rail project linking Laajasalo to the city centre, are now complete, allowing Hakaniemi’s busy interchange to reopen.
Helsinki Regional Transport (HSL) simultaneously withdrew six temporary replacement lines and increased frequencies on routes 4 and 10. Tram 5 resumed its full loop between Katajanokka Cruise Terminal and Central Station—good news for business travellers heading to the growing conference-hotel cluster on the island. Timetables for ten other lines were updated overnight; HSL urges season-ticket holders to re-check the Journey Planner app before Monday rush hour.
![Helsinki restores core tram network after eight-month detour]()
Although mainly a local transport story, the reopening matters to global-mobility managers: Pitkäsilta connects Helsinki’s main hotel district and central rail hub with the Kallio start-up quarter, where many visiting expatriate teams stay in mid-term rentals. Until now, employers were covering taxi vouchers or factoring 15-minute bus detours into schedules. One relocation firm estimates it spent €40 000 on alternative transfers this summer alone.
Looking ahead, construction will shift east toward the Kalasatama bridge section in early 2026. HSL says it will publish a disruption calendar six months in advance to help companies plan commuter benefits and travel-policy exceptions.
Helsinki Regional Transport (HSL) simultaneously withdrew six temporary replacement lines and increased frequencies on routes 4 and 10. Tram 5 resumed its full loop between Katajanokka Cruise Terminal and Central Station—good news for business travellers heading to the growing conference-hotel cluster on the island. Timetables for ten other lines were updated overnight; HSL urges season-ticket holders to re-check the Journey Planner app before Monday rush hour.
Although mainly a local transport story, the reopening matters to global-mobility managers: Pitkäsilta connects Helsinki’s main hotel district and central rail hub with the Kallio start-up quarter, where many visiting expatriate teams stay in mid-term rentals. Until now, employers were covering taxi vouchers or factoring 15-minute bus detours into schedules. One relocation firm estimates it spent €40 000 on alternative transfers this summer alone.
Looking ahead, construction will shift east toward the Kalasatama bridge section in early 2026. HSL says it will publish a disruption calendar six months in advance to help companies plan commuter benefits and travel-policy exceptions.
