“The best thing about the introduction of the new Ring Rail Line is that it improves the service level of the airport. Additionally, the connection makes the airport more accessible, so international flight connections and airport services are even more readily available to Finns,” says Airport Director Ville Haapasaari of Finavia.
Helsinki Airport is currently preparing for ever growing passenger volumes, for example by expanding the terminals. Helsinki Airport is forecast to serve 20 million passengers per year in 2020. The Ring Rail Line is part of the airport’s strong development programme.
Read more about the development programme of Helsinki Airport
Direct rail link to Helsinki city centre
With the Ring Rail Line, there will be a direct rail connection to Helsinki city centre. Passengers can change trains to national long-distance services and the Allegro train to St. Petersburg, Russia at Tikkurila station, less than a 10-minute train ride away from the airport.
The frequent service helps make travel easier: during rush hour, the interval between the trains on the Ring Rail Line will be 10 minutes, in both directions.
“The interval of the trains on the Ring Rail Line plays an important role. It is important not only to air passengers, but also the employees at the airport,” Haapasaari says.
The train connection also supports the development programme of the entire airport area
After the Ring Rail Line is operational, the accessibility of the Helsinki Airport and the Aviapolis Station will be top-class from various directions, and by several different forms of transportation. In future, Aviapolis will be the location for about 50,000 jobs and apartments for about 20,000 people in Vantaa.
Read more about the development around the Aviapolis Station
Out of the 5 new train stations on the Ring Rail Line, 4 are ready, and the last one, at the Airport, is expected to be completed in early summer. In March, test runs will begin on the line, after which decisions will be made on which stations the commuter trains will stop at.
The Helsinki Regional Transport Authority, HSL, estimates that the volume on the Ring Rail Line will reach about 400,000 trips per day.
Photo: Finnish Transport Agency
