Helsinki commuter rail

The term S -Bahn Helsinki is a German euphemism for the operated by the Finnish State Railways VR in the Helsinki region commuter rail. He is part of the regional transport system organized by the HSL transport system and runs far partly on its own, separate from the long-distance tracks. Since 1969, electric-powered trains are used.

For trips on the (Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen, Kerava, Kirkkonummi, Sipoo ) HSL HSL - area tickets must be used. They also allow the use of all other HSL transport (buses, trams, metro and the ferry to Suomenlinna ). Trains run but also further afield, to, for a VR own tariff applies.

Name

Unlike German S-Bahn trains are available for the Helsinki system no specific brand name and a logo (only the official logos of VR and HSL used). In Finnish, is in practice usually the talk of lähijuna (literally " Nahzug "). Other names are paikallisjuna ( " local train " ) and - rarely - kaupunkijuna ( " local train "). Often enough simply juna ( " train " ), particularly in conjunction with the line identifier, for example M- juna for trains on the M or the M line as a whole. For the full system HSL used mostly the name lähijunaliikenne ( " Nahzugverkehr " ), VR again the name Pääkaupunkiseudun lähiliikenne ( " transport in the capital region " ) or simply lähiliikenne ( " transport " - a reference to the capital region can be omitted since it in Finland no second such a system is, and the reference to the fact that it is trains which can in VR context also omitted). In addition, there is the word kaupunkirata ("city railway" ), with the activities used by local trains, separate from the long-distance tracks are meant.

Organization

On operation of the rail transport, several organizations are involved. PTA is the transport association HSL, who plans the whole of public transport in the region. In practical use, 2017 VR is responsible, at least until the end. Maintaining and developing the rail network again fall within the competence of the Finnish Transport Agency ( Liikennevirasto ). In construction of new transport routes, the Transport Authority is working closely with the relevant local authorities that are involved in the construction costs.

The newer suburban trains (Series Sm5 ) are the property of Pääkaupunkiseudun Junakalusto that of the cities of Helsinki ( 34%), Vantaa (17%), Espoo ( 12%) and Kauniainen (2 %) and PR (35%) is held. This company leases the trains on the traffic group HSL, passing it on again for the practical operation of VR. After 2017 it could be possible for HSL to choose between different operators in the tendering process.

Route

Route network

The Local trains run so far exclusively above ground, on busy sections of proper tracks, otherwise on the tracks of the city transport. The own transport tracks, however, are not technically separate from the long-distance tracks, so it is possible, for example, in the case of traffic congestion, divert the trains on each other's tracks.

All lines begin at the Helsinki Central Station and branch out after the first, common Pasila railway station in four directions. The four routes are currently in operation:

• Helsinki - Riihimäki Kerava ( so-called main path, päärata in boxes below line schema blue), 71 km (54 min). Own tracks to Kerava (29 km).
• Helsinki - Karis (so-called beach path, rantarata, in line schema green), 87 km (67 min). Own tracks to Leppävaara (11 km).
• Helsinki Vantaankoski ( Vantaankoski train, Vantaankosken rata, in line Scheme yellow ), 15 km (22 min). My tracks on entire route.
• Helsinki Kerava - Lahti ( Lahti - called shortcut path, Lahti oikorata, red line in the diagram), 103 km (60 min). Own tracks to Kerava (29 km).

Lines

The fifteen lines often differ only by the respective approached stations, and are designated by letters. Some of the lines runs only during rush hour. Trains a single line drive at best in 10 -minute intervals ( for example, line M ), mostly rare. However, since most stations are served by a respective plurality of lines, a clock frequency of some cases significantly less than 10 minutes can result for the journey between two specific stations. On the other hand, the stations Siuntio, Ingå and Karis, for example, (50-70 km west of Helsinki ) operated with the line Y Sundays only runs three times a day (as of April 2012).

Explanations of the symbols: point = train stops at this station; vertical line = train travels through; horizontal line = parallel route.

New track projects

An under construction, as a " ring road " ( kehärata ) designated new line will connect the main train station with the Vantaankoski in 2015 and also connect the Helsinki-Vantaa airport to the rail network. This is the first cross- connection in the S- Bahn network. The new, exclusively intended for the transport route is 18 km long, of which 8 km run in a tunnel under the airport. There are initially five new stations built, including two underground. Later, three more stations should be grudge, it also has two underground. The construction cost is estimated at a total of 738.5 million euros. On the ring road only trains the new series Sm5 will operate, the clock frequency will be 10 minutes during peak times. The journey time between the airport and the main railway station Helsinki will be 30 minutes.

Other new track projects, but are still in the planning stage, is one of the so-called " drop path " ( pisara - rata ). It received its name from its reminiscent of a water droplet route. This 7.2 km long, reserved exclusively for the transport route would begin in Pasila and make a 6 km long tunnel a round under the Helsinki city center to return back to Pasila. It would be three new underground stations to be built ( in Töölö, the main train station and in Hakaniemi ). The "drip rail " would relieve that arrived at full capacity main train station and the high traffic above ground route between Central Station and Pasila and connect new parts of the city to the S- Bahn network.

Rolling stock

There are primarily electrically operated double railcar series Sm1, Sm2, Sm4 and Sm5 ( Stadler Flirt ) for use; but also locomotive-hauled trains are used during rush hour. The track gauge is, as in the Finnish railway usual 1524 mm and the power is supplied via an overhead line with 25kV/50 Hz