Local rail transport in the Helsinki region
The rail transport in the Helsinki region ( Finnish lähijunaliikenne Pääkaupunkiseudun , Swedish Huvudstadsregionens närtågstrafik ) is a Vorortzugsystem in the Finnish Helsinki region . It corresponds roughly to a common mixed system of S-Bahn , regional express trains and regional trains known from Germany . Some local trains run outside the Helsinki area to Riihimäki , Tampere and Lahti .
Local rail transport is organized by the regional transport association Helsingin seudun liikenne / Helsingfors regionaltrafik (HSL / HRT). It is part of the traffic system and runs largely on its own tracks that are separate from long-distance traffic . Electrically operated trains have been in use since 1969.
HSL / HRT tickets must be used to travel in the HSL / HRT area ( Helsinki , Espoo , Vantaa , Kauniainen , Kerava , Kirkkonummi , Sipoo ). They also allow the use of all other HSL / HRT modes of transport (buses, trams , metro and the ferry to Suomenlinna ). For the more distant destinations, a VR tariff applies.
Surname
In contrast to German S-Bahn, there is no special brand name or logo for the system in the Finnish capital (only the general logos of VR and HSL / HRT are used). In practice, the term lähijuna / närtåg (literally “Nahzug”) is usually used . In connection with the line identifier, juna / tåg ("train") is also sufficient , for example M-juna / M-tåget for trains on line M or for line M as a whole.
For the overall system, HSL / HRT mostly uses the designation lähijunaliikenne / närtågstrafik ("local train traffic"), while VR uses the designation pääkaupunkiseudun lähiliikenne / huvudstadsregionens närtrafik ("local transport of the capital region") or simply lähiliikenne / närtrafik ("local transport" - the reference to the capital region can be omitted, as there is no second such system in Finland, and the reference to the fact that this is train traffic is also unnecessary in the VR context). There is also the word kaupunkirata / stadsbana ("Stadtbahn"), which refers to the tracks used by local trains that are separate from long-distance traffic.
organization
Several organizations are involved in the operation of local rail transport. The responsible authority is the regional transport association HSL / HRT, which plans all local public transport in the region. VR is responsible for practical operation at least until the end of 2017. Maintenance and expansion of the rail network, on the other hand, are the responsibility of the Finnish Transport Authority (Liikennevirasto / Trafikverket) . When building new local transport routes, the transport authority cooperates closely with the respective municipalities, which are involved in the construction costs.
The newer local trains ( Sm5 series ) are owned by Pääkaupunkiseudun Junakalusto , which is owned by the cities of Helsinki (34%), Vantaa (17%), Espoo (12%) and Kauniainen (2%) as well as VR (35%) . This company leases the trains to the HSL / HRT transport association, which in turn passes them on to VR for practical operation. After 2017 it could be possible for HSL / HRT to choose between different operators in the tendering process .
Route
Route network
The local trains run mainly above ground, but there is also an 8 km long tunnel section on the Ringbahn (see below). On heavily frequented sections of the route, the trains run on their own tracks, otherwise on the tracks of long-distance traffic. The local traffic tracks are not technically separated from the long-distance tracks, so that, for example, in the event of traffic disruptions, it is possible to divert the trains to the other tracks.
There are four railway lines with a total of 15 different lines . All routes start at Helsinki Central Station and branch off in the following directions after the first joint Pasila station :
- Helsinki – Kerava – Riihimäki ( päärata / huvudbanan , “main line”, blue in the line scheme below), 71 km (54 min). Own tracks to Kerava (29 km).
- Helsinki – Karis ( rantarata / kustbanan , “coastal tram ”, green in the line scheme), 87 km (67 min). Own tracks to Leppävaara (11 km).
- Helsinki – Airport – Tikkurila ( kehärata / ringbanan , "ring railway", yellow in the line scheme), 15 km (22 min). Own tracks on the entire route. This line was extended in July 2015 by the 18 km long ring line (see below) to the Hiekkaharju station on the main line.
- Helsinki – Kerava – Lahti ( Lahden oikorata , “Lahti abbreviation path ”, red in the line scheme), 103 km (60 min). Own tracks to Kerava (29 km).
Lines
The 15 lines that run on the four railway lines differ in many cases only in the stations they travel to and are denoted by letters. Some of the lines are only used during rush hour . Trains on individual lines run at best every 10 minutes (for example line M), usually less often. However, since most train stations are served by several lines, the frequency of journeys between two specific train stations is often less than ten minutes. On the other hand, the Siuntio , Ingå and Karis stations (50–70 km west of Helsinki) are only served by Line Y, which only runs three times a day on Sundays (as of April 2012).
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New route projects
In July 2015, the new line , known as the “Ringbahn” ( Finnish kehärata ), went into operation, which connects the main line with the Vantaankoski Railway and connects Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to the rail network. It is the first cross-connection in the S-Bahn network. The new route, intended exclusively for local traffic, is 18 km long, 8 km of which run in a tunnel under the airport premises. Initially, five new stations were built, two of them underground. Another three stations are to be built later, two of which are also underground. The construction costs were estimated at a total of 738.5 million euros. Only trains of the new Sm5 series run on the new lines I and P on the Ringbahn, the frequency is ten minutes during peak times. Travel time between the airport and Helsinki Central Station is around 30 minutes.
The so-called “drop track” ( Finnish pisara-rata ) is one of the other new route projects that are still in the planning stage . It got its name from its route, which is reminiscent of a drop of water. This 7.2 km long route, reserved exclusively for local traffic, would begin in Pasila and make a loop under the Helsinki city center in a six-kilometer tunnel to return to Pasila. Three new underground stations would be built (in Töölö , at the main train station and in Hakaniemi ). The “drop train” would relieve the main station, which has reached its capacity limit, and the heavily frequented above-ground route between the main station and Pasila, and connect new parts of the city center to the S-Bahn network.
vehicles
Primarily electrically operated double multiple units of the series Sm4 are used on regional lines (R / Z) and Sm5 ( Stadler Flirt ) on lines similar to S-Bahn; However, individual older VR multiple units of the Sm2 series are also used in rush hour traffic. As is customary on the Finnish railway, the track width is 1524 mm and the power supply is via an overhead line with 25 kV / 50 Hz.
Web links
- VR (Finnish, Swedish, English, Russian)
- HSL (Finnish, Swedish, English)
- Current route network of the Helsinki S-Bahn from August 15, 2016
Individual evidence
- ↑ Lähijunaliikenne. Helsingin seudun liikenne, archived from the original on August 19, 2013 ; accessed on June 1, 2016 .
- ↑ Rautateiden henkilöliikenteen kilpailuttaminen järkevintä aloittaa Helsingin seudulta . Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications, May 18, 2010.
- ↑ Yrityksemme Pääkaupunkiseudun Junakalusto Oy. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
- ↑ Kehärata lyhyesti . Finnish Transport Authority, June 12, 2013.
- ↑ Pisara-radan yleissuunnitelma on hyväksytty . Finnish Transport Authority, March 16, 2012.