HSL to decrease fares for long route from 2020

The Helsinki Regional Transport Authority (Helsingin seudun liikenne – HSL) on Tuesday decided that the fares for the longest trips, i.e. the prices of ABC, BCD, CD and ABCD tickets, will decrease at the beginning of 2020.

The price cuts will apply to both single and season tickets, said a press release of the City of Helsinki on Tuesday. The prices of AB, BC and D tickets, however, will remain unchanged.

“This is the first time in our 10-year history we make such significant fare cuts. We will lower the fares for the longest journeys, as switching from driving to public transport for the longest journeys is most beneficial in terms of reducing emissions from traffic,” said HSL Executive Director Suvi Rihtniemi.

The biggest benefit will be to those living in zones C and D, but also people living in zones A and B will benefit from the lower prices. For example, residents of Helsinki buy 27 per cent of ABC tickets and they are the third largest group of people buying ABCD tickets.

The level of public transport service is poorer in zones C and D than closer to the center of Helsinki.

In zones A and B, the level of public transport service is excellent. Moreover, the validity area of AB and BC tickets is very large and thanks to the 80-minute transfer time, passengers are often able to make both the outward and return journeys with the same ticket.