The Ring Rail Line is an essential part of the urban line network that improves public transport in the entire Helsinki region. The line connects residential and job areas. It also provides a rail link to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.
The 18-kilometre line brings rail services to new areas in Vantaa, and feeder traffic allows people living farther away to take advantage of services as well. The Ring Rail Line will reduce the need for bus and car traffic along with associated environmental impacts and thus promote the EU’s climate policy objectives.
Rail link from the centre of Helsinki to the airport
New SM5 low-floor trains designed for commuter services operate on the Ring Rail Line. These run at 10-minute intervals in both directions during peak periods. Rail capacity can be used more efficiently since trains are able to run in a loop. The journey time from the centre of Helsinki to the airport is about half an hour. The maximum line speed is 120 km/h.
Passengers coming on long-distance trains from the north can change trains in Tikkurila. The trip from Tikkurila to the airport will take about eight minutes.
Five new stations to begin with
The Ring Rail Line is a two-track urban line reserved exclusively for passenger traffic. It has surface stations at Vehkala, Kivistö and Leinelä as well as the Aviapolis and Airport tunnel stations. Plans allow for additional stations under ground at Ruskeasanta and Viinikkala and on the surface at Petas. The busiest stations are Kivistö and Airport.
The Ring Rail Line goes under the airport in an eight-kilometre tunnel with two tubes. Coming from the west the tunnel begins on the northeast side of the Katriinantie-Tikkurilantie intersection and resurfaces in Ilola to the east of Laaksotie and south of Koivukylänväylä.
Connecting corridors are excavated at intervals of about 200 metres between the two tubes. In an emergency these can be used to exit to the other tube. Special emphasis has been placed on operational safety in planning and execution.
Improvement of Highway 3 between Ring III and Keimola
Road arrangements in the Kivistö area have been planned as part of the improvement of Highway 3 (the Hämeenlinna motorway) between Ring III and Keimola. The road plan includes a new Keimolanportti interchange, among other things. The old Hämeenlinna road (Vanha Hämeenlinnantie) was rerouted and designed and landscaped to give it a more urban look and reduce speeds. High-standard bus stops have been constructed on the motorway and noise barriers were installed around it.
Construction costs and execution
The total cost estimate for the Ring Rail Line project is 773.8 million euros. Financing will be divided between the Finnish state, the City of Vantaa and Finavia. The Ring Rail Line receives partial funding from the European Union’s TEN-T programme.
The cost estimate also includes improvements to Highway 3 between Ring III and Keimola and the first stage of the Tikkurila travel centre.
The Ring Rail Line project will be conducted under the direction of the Finnish Traffic Agency, Rail. Other cooperation partners are the City of Vantaa, the Finnish Traffic Agency, the Finnish Road Administration and Finavia.
Construction of the Ring Rail Line began in spring 2009 and the line went into operation in July 2015.
(Source: Finnish Transport Agency)
