Metro service to Espoo finally opens today

The long-delayed West Metro services between Helsinki and Espoo will start operation today.

Metro service to Matinkylä was originally scheduled to be opened in 2014 but was delayed several times due to various reasons.

The Helsinki Regional Transport Authority-HSL said that the Metro extension from Ruoholahti to Matinkylä will open to passenger service on Saturday (November 18).

The Helsinki Regional Transport Authority-HSL termed the change as historic; the previous change of similar magnitude was seen in 1982 when the Helsinki Metro was opened.

The Metro extension is 14 kilometers long, with eight new stations: Lauttasaari and Koivusaari in Helsinki, Keilaniemi, Aalto University, Tapiola, Urheilupuisto, Niittykumpu and Matinkylä in Espoo, said a press release of HSL on Friday.

The first Metro trains leave right after 5am from both Itäkeskus and Matinkylä. HSL staff will be guiding passengers outside Metro stations throughout Saturday.

The opening of the Metro extension will be celebrated 10am-4pm at the M.E.E.T Square in the IsoOmena shopping center.

In addition, there will be various events in the vicinity of Tapiola, Niittykumpu and Lauttasaari stations. There will be staff to assist passengers at all new stations. Staff will be available at key stations also on Sunday and Monday.

On the opening day, significantly higher numbers of passengers are expected to be traveling in particular on the western section of line than usual on Saturdays. Passengers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys and be patient.

From November 18, the Metro will operate on two lines: Matinkylä–Vuosaari and Tapiola–Mellunmäki. On the shared section of line between Tapiola and Itäkeskus, the headways are 2.5 minutes at peak times Monday to Friday. During the daytime and early evening as well as on Saturdays, the headways are 3-4 minutes. At other times, the Metro runs every 5 minutes.

The Metro service begins at about 5am and continues until about 11.30pm. On Sundays, service begins at about 6am.

During the pre-Christmas party season 17 November-17 December, the Metro runs two hour longer than usual on Friday and Saturday evenings.