The new metro line from Matinkylä to Kivenlahti will open on December 3, 2022
Metro starts operating Espoo’s Kivenlahti on Saturday 3.12. The new track section is seven kilometers long and has five new stations: Finnoo, Kaitaa, Soukka, Espoonlahti and Kivenlahti.
When the new stations are in use, there will be a total of 30 metro stations. The Helsinki and Espoo metro network is now 43 kilometers long.
The metro was expanded from Ruoholahti to Matinkylä with eight new stations in 2017, when the first phase of the Länsimetro was completed. Since then, the work has continued on the west side of Matinkylä.
“The timetables and costs of the construction of the metro extension were kept in accordance with the decisions of the Espoo City Council,” says Olli Isotalodeputy city manager for the urban environment, chairman of the board of Länsimetro.
“Even though the metro starts operating, construction continues around the stations. In the current areas of Kaita, Souka, Espoonlahti and Kivenlahti, development is concentrated around the stations and services are improved. A completely new residential area is being created in Finnoos,” continues Isotalo.
“The metro is now ready. Decades of work is coming to an end, although the work to develop the metro continues. The metro is the most popular form of public transport: 93 percent of our customers give the metro a good or very good rating. The environmentally friendly metro has a revolutionary effect on the mobility of people in its area, and it is also very important for the capital region and in terms of the vitality of Finland as a whole”, says HSL’s executive director. Mika Nykänen.
There will be no changes in connecting bus traffic when the new track section opens. The metro will run parallel to the current services for a few months. The new bus routes of the metro line will be put into use at the beginning of 2023. The final date will be announced later.
The new subway timetables and bus routes and timetables can be viewed in HSL’s Route Guide well before the changes come into effect.
The city is growing along with the metro line
Although the metro runs underground in Espoo, its effects are also felt above ground.
The extension of the metro brings with it plenty of new opportunities, such as new services, apartments and jobs, which increases the vitality of the city. With the metro, a completely new district, Finnoo, will be born, and the attractiveness of existing destinations will increase. The Espoo metro area has growth potential for 70,000 new residents and the opportunity to increase the number of jobs by 100 percent by 2050.
“Metro supports the network-like structure of the city’s five centers and sustainable urban development. Compact centers are being built next to and on top of the metro line, surrounded by areas of single-family homes, Espoo’s mayor explains. Jukka Mäkelä.
“Länsimetro’s growth corridor is also central to the competitiveness of Espoo and the whole of Finland and significantly promotes cooperation between companies, universities and cities,” Mäkelä continues.
West Espoo, along the new section of the metro, has the greatest growth potential for public transport in the HSL region.
Regular service and safe journeys
The metro is operated by Pääkaupunkiseudun Liikenne Oy, which is also responsible for property maintenance and system supervision along the entire metro line.
“Pääkaupunkiseudun Liikenne Oy and our 150 metro drivers are ready to expand metro services. We have prepared for the launch of services with various preparatory work. In addition to driver training and test drives, we have tried to ensure the functionality of the track section and that all technical control systems work flawlessly when the services start. Metro is one of the most important parts of our operation. Its safety and reliability are a matter of honor for us”, says the CEO of Pääkaupunkiseudun Liikenne Oy, head of unit. Antti Nousiainen.
The stations demonstrate architectural performance
The Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section of the Länsimetro was completed in September. The construction project met all the goals set for it, such as goals related to schedule, costs, risks, quality, cooperation and occupational safety. After construction, Länsimetro Oy owns the tracks, stations and metro system west of Ruoholahti and is responsible for their maintenance and development.
“Länsimetro’s stations are architecturally attractive, Finnish architectural know-how at its best, and the unique stations serve as visiting cards for the regions. We look forward to passengers arriving at the new metro stations and enjoying the benefits of this fast space. public transport safely,” says Länsimetro Oy’s CEO Ville Saksi.
HT
Source: HSL