Photo: Emmi Korhonen / Lehtikuva
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Metro trains are running again to Vuosaari and Rastila following the completion of major repair works to the Vuosaari metro bridge and both stations.
Helsinki Region Transport (HSL) confirmed the return of normal service after the infrastructure overhaul was completed on schedule. The line had been partially closed since early May, with Puotila station acting as the eastern terminus during the work.
The repairs lasted nearly five months.
The restoration work focused on the structural condition of the Vuosaari metro bridge and station facility upgrades at Vuosaari and Rastila.
At Vuosaari station, the upgrades included new escalators, improved lighting on the platform, and an updated heating system to prevent freezing during winter. The overhaul aimed to extend the service life of the station and improve safety for passengers.
Rastila station received new LED lighting to reduce energy consumption. Other updates included the installation of new surveillance cameras, upgraded loudspeakers for station announcements, and anti-pigeon spikes installed on level surfaces.
Mikko Haapanen, who oversaw the project, said that the work proceeded according to plan. “The goal was to minimise disruption while ensuring long-term safety and reliability,” he said in a statement released by HSL.
During the renovation period, passengers travelling to and from Vuosaari were required to use temporary bus connections or walk to the nearest functioning metro station. Some residents expressed frustration about the extended closure, but others welcomed the improvements once services resumed.
Photographs from Monday morning showed a steady flow of passengers entering Vuosaari station again. Commuters were seen using the new escalators and waiting for westbound trains on the platform.
The restoration project is part of a wider programme by the City of Helsinki and HSL to modernise ageing parts of the metro network. No further major disruptions are currently planned along the Vuosaari branch.
Metro trains will now resume regular operation between Vuosaari and the rest of the line with no changes to frequency or timetable.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
