Drivers’ strike to freeze metro, tram in Helsinki on Thursday, Friday

All commuter metro and tram services will remain suspended on Thursday and Friday as the drivers have decided to go on a strike, said the Helsinki Regional Transport Authority (Helsingin seudun liikenne – HSL) on Tuesday.

Tram and Metro Staff Union called strike protesting against the plan to turn the operating authority of the municipality into a limited company in January.

No replacement services will be provided during the work stoppage and the HSL urged the people who normally use the metro or tram services to use ridepool or cycle, if possible.

Other public transport services, however, will run as usual but especially buses running along the metro line may be crowded, said the HSL.

The authority already outlined a list of alternative transport links by station and urged the people to use the HSL Journey Planner to find alternative public transport routes; excluding the metro and trams from the search.

The drivers will return to work on Saturday from 4:00am.