- OPERATION

The Helsinki Metro operates from 5:30 to 23:30 Mon-Sat, 6:30 - 23: 30 Sundays, every 5 minutes during daytime between Ruoholahti/Gräsviken and Itäkeskus/Östra centrum. From the latter station every other train goes to Vuosaari/Nordsjö or to Mellunmäki/Mellungsbacka; trains run every 3-6 minutes during morning rush hours.

- FARES (2007, in Euro)

All tickets allow transfer between metro, local trains, trams and buses within the city of Helsinki:

Single ticket - 2.00 (Paid with Travel Card - 1.80, 1.40 off-peak)

14-days universal ticket - EUR 35.30

Tourist Travelcards

1-Day EUR 6.00, 3-Days EUR 12.00, 5-Days EUR 18.00

- All fares subject to change -

Helsinki (Helsingfors in Swedish) is the capital of Finland, with 540,000 inhabitants in the city and almost a million in the metropolitan area. The suburbs spread out over several islands, whereas jobs are mainly concentrated in the city centre. On the map, orange names are in Finnish, whereas grey names are Swedish.

So far only one Metro line from the city centre to the eastern suburbs (21 km - 16 stations) with two branches is in operation. 4.9 km are in tunnel through the city centre. The bigger part of the line (Kaampi - Itäkeskus) opened between 1982 and 1983, in 1986 the line was extended to Kontula and further out to Mellunmäki in 1989. In the city centre one more station was added to reach Ruoholahti. The branch from Itäkeskus (4 km) east to Vuosaari was inaugurated in Sept. 1998.

The Helsinki Metro is used by some 150,000 passengers daily. Travelling time between Ruoholati and Mellunmäki or Vuosaari is 21-22 minutes (every other train goes to Vuosaari). All stations (7 underground, 9 above ground) are fully accessible by wheelchair. Station platforms are 135 m long. The Metro uses 1524 mm gauge (same as state railways) and third rail power supply.

Total length 21.1 km (of which 6.5 km are in tunnel, 14.6 km above ground and 2.5 km on bridges)