Trams in the city centre. Photo: Aarni Salomaa / City Transport Ltd
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Several older trams in Helsinki were damaged over the weekend after the city’s main tramline voltage was increased. While many units have now returned to service, City Transport warns passengers to expect continued changes and possible cancellations during the coming week.
The voltage increase was carried out between Saturday and Sunday night to match the power levels used by Helsinki’s newer light rail lines, including the Kruunusillat route and Line 15. The network now operates at 750 VDC.
The update damaged the inverters of older articulated trams, which convert direct current into alternating current. Although the vehicles had been modified and tested ahead of the change, some units still failed. The newer Artic-series trams were not affected.
City Transport’s maintenance teams worked through Sunday to replace broken components. By Monday morning, half of the 48 affected articulated trams were expected back in service. This number, combined with newer vehicles, was enough to cover the scheduled traffic with only minor disruptions.
While Monday’s timetable is not expected to see major changes, some departures may be cancelled. Further changes are possible throughout the week as repairs continue.
Up-to-date service information is available on the HSL website.
The voltage upgrade makes the tram power network more stable and energy efficient. Higher voltage reduces energy loss and allows for greater distances between power supply stations. This will support future expansion of the tram system and improve overall network capacity.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
