A new tram for Helsinki – designed for demanding conditions

The tram is the main mode of public transport within the Helsinki inner city and approximately 200,000 passengers per day use the extensive network. Helsinki City Transport (HKL) is increasing and modernising its tram fleet over the next five years, as the network will be extended and the oldest tram generation in Helsinki is coming to the end of its life cycle.

HKL conducted a detailed study of an optimal tram concept for climatically and geometrically demanding track conditions. The result was a 100% low-floor tram with a design incor – porating a combination of freely pivoting ‘conventional’ bogies.

After tender-competition, the delivery of 40 new trams was awarded to Transtech Oy – a major domestic rolling stock company – partnered with Voith Turbo GmbH.

The tram project is on-going and the first two pre-series trams are currently in production and are set to be delivered to Helsinki in summer 2013.

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