Ticket sales on trams to end in February

Starting in February, tram drivers will no longer sell single tickets. Tram tickets will continue to be available from ticket machines and with Travel Card, said Helsinki City Transport (HKL) in a press release.

“Ending ticket sales by drivers is part of the tram service development program aiming at faster, smoother and more punctual tram services. Currently, dwell time at stops accounts for up to 17 per cent of the total travel time,” says Lauri Räty, a Public Transport Planner at HSL. “Ending ticket sales by drivers is a necessary first step before we can implement other measures to improve the reliability of tram services, such as improving traffic signal priorities.”

"Several cities around the world have already removed tickets sales on trams. The punctuality of tram services improves immediately when the ticket sales ends as, for example, trams from passenger harbors are able to leave on schedule," says Arttu Kuukankorpi, the Director of Traffic Operations Unit at Helsinki City Transport.

In addition to improving the level of service, reducing delays delivers savings in public transport operating costs, allowing services to be operated with smaller number of vehicles. According to estimates, faster services will deliver cost savings of 4-5 million a year and reduce fleet demand by 8-10 trams.

Although tram drivers will no longer sell tickets, they will continue to assist passengers with travel questions.

Ticket sales on trams accounts for about 0.9 per cent of HSL’s total ticket sales. The number of tickets sold by tram drivers has decreased year by year, and last year ticket revenue from onboard sales amounted to about 3 million euros.