A passenger paying for an AB ticket inside a tram in Helsinki. Photo: Tuukka Lindholm / HSL
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Public transport fares in the Helsinki region will increase by 3.1 percent on 1 January 2026, following a decision by the board of Helsinki Region Transport (HSL). The fare hike comes amid rising infrastructure and operational costs and limited capacity of member municipalities to cover funding gaps.
The decision was reached after negotiations within the HSL Executive Board. It passed by a vote of 10 to 4, with representatives from the National Coalition Party, the Swedish People’s Party, and the Finns Party voting in favour. The Green League and the Left Alliance opposed the hike, having called for a freeze on fares.
The approved rise is lower than the original 6.4 percent increase proposed by HSL officials. The adjustment will affect all ticket types and travel zones. Precise updated prices will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Under the revised pricing, a single adult ticket purchased with the HSL app or travel card is expected to rise from €3.20 to €3.30. For contactless card payments, the same ticket will increase from €3.40 to €3.50. Two-zone season tickets will increase from €72.10 to approximately €75, while the cheapest subscription model, the continuous saver plan, will rise from €60.10 to about €62.
The increases are intended to offset general cost growth but do not cover the financial impact of earlier tax policy decisions by the Finnish government. Member municipalities will need to fill that shortfall from local budgets.
Smaller municipalities within the HSL area raised concerns during negotiations, warning that they would face significant financial strain if required to absorb the rising costs without any ticket price increases.
HSL receives approximately 57 percent of its funding from municipal contributions. The remaining 43 percent comes from fare revenues. For 2026, HSL is targeting around €400 million in fare income.
Infrastructure and service disruptions are expected to reduce income further. Scheduled rail and tram line closures in 2026 are projected to cut ticket revenue by around €2 million. These include a summer shutdown of three Helsinki train stations along the western Ring Rail Line and a separate three-month tram disruption due to major street works on Mäkelänkatu.
HSL’s Market Division Director Mari Flink acknowledged the challenges of balancing affordability with financial sustainability. “Setting fares is always a balancing act. We want to keep increases moderate to protect access to public transport while covering rising costs,” she said.
To soften the impact on passengers, HSL will introduce a new daily fare cap for single ticket users. The cap ensures that passengers using single tickets will never pay more in one day than the cost of a day ticket, regardless of how many trips they take.
The cap will be introduced gradually, beginning with contactless payment users. The full timeline for implementation has not yet been confirmed.
HSL is also planning structural changes to its fare system. The current multi-zone model will be modified, including the removal of add-on zone tickets and the introduction of a new outer E-zone for extended travel areas. These changes aim to simplify fare options and reflect regional expansion.
In the longer term, HSL projects continued pressure from infrastructure costs, which are set to increase by €10 million next year, and operational costs, which are expected to rise by €12 million. The agency plans to keep the municipal subsidy share under 55 percent by 2029.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
