{{Short description|Light rail line in Helsinki and Espoo, Finland}} {{expand Finnish|date=June 2023|topic=transp}} {{Infobox rail line | name = Helsinki light rail line 15 | other_name = Jokeri light rail | native_name = Pikaraitiotie 15 | native_name_lang = fi | color = {{rail color|Helsinki City Transport|15}} | image = Two light rail trams on line 15 in Keilaniemi.jpg | caption = Western terminus of the line in Keilaniemi, Espoo | type = Light rail | system = Helsinki tram network | status = Operational | locale = Helsinki, Espoo | start = Keilaniemi | end = Itäkeskus | stations = 34 | routes = 15 | daily_ridership = | open = {{Start date and age|2023|10|21|df=yes}} | owner = | operator = Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd | character = Partial street running, partial at-grade separate right-of-way | depot = Roihupelto | stock = 29x Škoda Artic X54 | linelength_km = 25 | tracks = 2 | gauge = {{RailGauge|1000mm|allk=on}} | linenumber = 15<ref name="hs-linenumber">{{Cite web |last=Moilanen |first=Kaisu |date=2023-05-11 |title=Helsingin seudun pikaratikka saa tunnuksen 15 |url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000009578051.html |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref> | electrification = Overhead catenary at 750V DC | speed = up to {{convert|70|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nukarinen |first=Arja |last2=Ranta |first2=Mika |date=2023-10-20 |title=Kyyti uudessa ratikassa näytti monta vaaran paikkaa: Video tallensi radalla toikkaroivat kulkijat |url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000009902854.html |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref> | signalling = Line of sight | website = | yearcommenced = {{Start date and age|2019|df=yes}} | map = {{switcher | {{Rapid transit OSM map|type=line|single_line=y}} | Show interactive map | {{Helsinki tram line 15|inline=yes|detail=y}} | Show diagram }} | map_state = collapsed }} '''Helsinki light rail line 15''' ({{langx|fi|Pikaraitiotie 15}}, {{langx|sv|Snabbspårväg 15}}) is a {{convert|25|km|adj=on}} light rail line connecting Keilaniemi in Espoo and Itäkeskus in Helsinki, Finland. Known during construction as '''Jokeri light rail''' ({{langx|fi|Raide-Jokeri}}, {{langx|sv|Spårjokern}}), construction was started in June 2019<ref>{{cite web|title=Raide-Jokeri LRT construction to begin in June|url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/light-rail/raide-jokeri-lrt-begins-june/|website=International Railway Journal|date=1 May 2019}}</ref> and the line began operating in October 2023,<ref name="yle23">{{cite news |title=”Yllättävän hiljainen, mukava matkustaa”, sanoo espoolainen matkustaja – Yle seurasi suorana pikaratikan ensimmäisiä vuoroja |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20056349 |access-date=21 October 2023 |publisher=Yle |date=21 October 2023 |language=fi}}</ref> about 10 months ahead of the original schedule.<ref name="hs-ahead-of-schedule"/> The line replaced the trunk bus line 550, a bus rapid transit service and the busiest bus service on the Helsinki Regional Transport Authority public transport network, at the end of 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Okko |first=Laura |date=2023-11-30 |title=Pikaratikan vuoroväli tihenee jopa 6 minuuttiin, ja bussilinja 550 lakkaa pian– "Bussi on nopeampi" |url=https://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/paikalliset/6385772 |access-date=2024-01-01 |website=Helsingin Uutiset |language=fi}}</ref>
== History == === Background === The "trunk bus line" 550, a bus rapid transit service, formerly branded ''Jokeri'' ("The Joker", after '''Jo'''ukkoliikenteen '''ke'''hämäinen '''r'''aide'''i'''nvestointi – "A circular rail investment for public transportation"), has been converted to light rail. The city councils of Helsinki and Espoo approved the construction project in June 2016,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Valtuuston päätöksiä 13.6.2016 |url=http://www.espoo.fi/fi-FI/Asuminen_ja_ymparisto/Valtuuston_paatoksia_1362016(94196) |url-status=dead |website=City of Espoo |access-date=2019-05-06 |archive-date=2019-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506145535/https://www.espoo.fi/fi-FI/Asuminen_ja_ymparisto/Valtuuston_paatoksia_1362016(94196) }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-06-15 |title=Kaupunginvaltuusto, Päätöstiedote nro 12 |url=http://www.hel.fi/static/public/hela/Kaupunginvaltuusto/Suomi/Paatostiedote/2016/Kanslia_2016-06-15_Kvsto_12_Pt/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118024112/http://www.hel.fi/static/public/hela/Kaupunginvaltuusto/Suomi/Paatostiedote/2016/Kanslia_2016-06-15_Kvsto_12_Pt/index.html |archive-date=2016-11-18 |access-date=2019-05-06 |website=City of Helsinki |language=fi}}</ref> after the Finnish government decided to participate in funding the construction. The rail line was preliminarily projected to open in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Raide-Jokeri lyhyesti |url=http://raidejokeri.info/?page_id=47 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031195155/http://raidejokeri.info/?page_id=47 |archive-date=2016-10-31 |access-date=2019-05-06 |website=Raide-Jokeri |language=fi}}</ref> The construction of the {{convert|25|km|mi|adj=on}} light rail line, without rolling stock or a depot, was projected to cost 274 million euros as of June 2016, with rolling stock and a depot projected to additionally cost up to 95 and 65 million euros, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Raide-Jokeri, hankesuunnitelma 2015 |url=http://www.hel.fi/static/public/hela/Kaupunginvaltuusto/Suomi/Paatostiedote/2016/Kanslia_2016-06-15_Kvsto_12_Pt/A2AEFA90-F3B5-4859-9D57-CD2CF135D0F9/Liite.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808083915/http://www.hel.fi/static/public/hela/Kaupunginvaltuusto/Suomi/Paatostiedote/2016/Kanslia_2016-06-15_Kvsto_12_Pt/A2AEFA90-F3B5-4859-9D57-CD2CF135D0F9/Liite.pdf |archive-date=2016-08-08 |access-date=2016-06-16 |publisher=Cities of Espoo and Helsinki |language=fi}}</ref>
The 550 was originally conceived as a light rail line in 1990, but only realised as a bus line in 2003. The general plans to convert the congested bus line to light rail were first published in 2009, but the decision to begin construction was only taken in June 2016 after many delays.<ref name="misc14">{{Cite web |last=Alku |first=Antero |date=2008-06-21 |title=Jokerilinja |url=http://www.kaupunkiliikenne.net/Helsinki/jokeri.html |access-date=2008-07-16 |website=www.kaupunkiliikenne.net |language=Finnish |ref=notemisc14}}</ref><ref name="HKL_2010-10-26">{{Cite web |date=2010-10-26 |title=HLJ 2011 draft |url=http://www.hsl.fi/FI/HLJ2011/Documents/HLJ_luonnos_261010_pienennetty.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102020503/http://www.hsl.fi/FI/HLJ2011/Documents/HLJ_luonnos_261010_pienennetty.pdf |archive-date=2011-01-02 |access-date=2008-10-15 |language=Finnish |ref=HKL_2010-10-26}}</ref><ref name="HKL 2008-10-15">{{Cite web |date=2008-10-15 |title=Raide-Jokeria suunnitellaan |url=http://www.hel.fi/wps/portal/HKL/Artikkeli?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/HKL/fi/ajankohtaista/bussijokerista+raidejokeri |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023032052/http://www.hel.fi/wps/portal/HKL/Artikkeli?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=%2FHKL%2Ffi%2Fajankohtaista%2Fbussijokerista+raidejokeri |archive-date=2008-10-23 |access-date=2008-10-15 |language=Finnish |ref=HKL 2008-10-15}}</ref><ref name="raidejokeri_info_report">{{Cite web |date=May 2009 |title=Raide-Jokeri Alustava yleissuunnitelma 2009 |url=http://raidejokeri.info/Raportti/Raide-Jokeri_raportti.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721231830/http://raidejokeri.info/Raportti/Raide-Jokeri_raportti.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-21 |access-date=2010-11-06 |publisher=The City of Helsinki, Espoo |language=Finnish |ref=raidejokeri_info_report {{!}} The City of Espoo, Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council, Ministry of Transport and Communications}}</ref> The municipality of Espoo has located the western terminus of the rail line at Keilaniemi instead of Tapiola. There are connections to the Helsinki Metro at Aalto University and Keilaniemi.
The previous 550 bus line was a {{convert|25|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} orbital route running roughly parallel to the innermost ring road around Helsinki (Ring I). The 550 ran from Itäkeskus in the east to Tapiola in the west, connecting with the commuter rail network at Oulunkylä, Huopalahti, Pitäjänmäki and Leppävaara, and with the metro in Itäkeskus and Tapiola.
Light rail line 15 is a significant development for the Helsinki tram network. The route is located entirely outside the current network, surrounding it; the length of the route constitutes a large proportion of the total network length, and the line is built to modern light rail standards (as opposed to the relatively old-fashioned street tram system). However, the new line is technically compatible with the existing network ({{RailGauge|metre|allk=on}}, low platforms). Direct integration with the Helsinki Metro (broad gauge, high platforms, planned driverless operation) was briefly studied in 2003, but it was found to be highly impractical.<ref name="misc16">{{Cite web |last=Alku |first=Antero |date=2004-04-12 |title=Metron ja pikaraitiotien yhteensovittaminen |url=http://www.kaupunkiliikenne.net/Integra.htm |access-date=2008-07-16 |website=www.kaupunkiliikenne.net |language=Finnish |ref=notemisc16}}</ref>
=== Construction === Construction on the line officially began in June 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burroughs |first=David |date=6 June 2019 |title=Construction of Raide-Jokeri light rail line begins |url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/light-rail/construction-of-raide-jokeri-light-rail-line-begins/ |website=International Railway Journal}}</ref> Construction proceeded ahead of schedule, with test runs being completed between 2022 and June 2023.<ref name="hs-ahead-of-schedule">{{Cite web |last=Salomaa |first=Marja |date=2023-01-22 |title=Raide-Jokeri on valmistumassa etuajassa, myös budjetti on alittumassa – mitä siinä tehtiin oikein? |url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000009334253.html |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref> Regular service started in October 2023,<ref name="yle23" /> ahead of the original 2024 target date.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aluekohtaiset koeajot saatiin päätökseen – testit jatkuvat koko linjalla |url=https://raidejokeri.info/aluekohtaiset-koeajot-saatiin-paatokseen-testit-jatkuvat-koko-linjalla/ |website=Raide-Jokeri |access-date=2023-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425105106/https://raidejokeri.info/aluekohtaiset-koeajot-saatiin-paatokseen-testit-jatkuvat-koko-linjalla/ |archive-date=2023-04-25 |language=fi |date=2023-04-25}}</ref> 5858 workers took part in the construction.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rakentamisen edistyminen |url=https://raidejokeri.info/rakentamisen-edistymisen-seuranta/ |website=Raide-Jokeri |access-date=2023-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306165339/https://raidejokeri.info/rakentamisen-edistymisen-seuranta/ |archive-date=2023-03-06 |language=fi}}</ref>
<gallery> File:Construction of Jokeri light rail in Maunula, Helsinki, Finland, 2022 September.jpg|Construction work in Maunula in September 2022 File:Raide-Jokerin Patterimäen tunnelia rakennetaan.jpg|Western entrance of the Patterinmäki tunnel during construction work in May 2022 </gallery>
===Opening=== thumb|Ribbon cutting ceremony to officially inaugurate the light rail line. In the background is the first tram in service for the line awaiting departure. The first service of Jokeri light rail took place in Otaniemi, where the first service departed on 21 October 2023 to Itäkeskus. HSL (Helsinki Regional Transport Authority) organized an opening event at Otaniemi, with guests like Finnish prime minister Petteri Orpo, Finnish minister of Environment and climate change Kai Mykkänen and the deputy mayor of Helsinki.
== Services == thumb|Tram 15 at the Aalto-yliopisto stop Services on tram line 15 began on 21 October 2023.<ref name="yle23" /> The initial service consisted of a tram every 12 minutes (5tph). On 1 December 2023, the frequency was increased to 6tph. From 4 March 2024, the peak time frequency was increased further, to a tram every 8 minutes (7.5tph). From summer 2024, the all-day frequency will be increased to 8tph, with up to 10tph at peak times.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aalto |first=Maija |date=2023-06-07 |title=Raide-Jokerin liikenne voisi alkaa jo syksyllä |url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000009640039.html |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref>
The line is operated by Helsinki City Transport, although the operation is planned to be contracted out to a commercial entity later.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kirsi |first=Katri |date=2020-12-03 |title=Raide-Jokeria liikennöi tulevaisuudessa kaupallinen taho, HKL jäämässä pois kilpailutuksesta – Toimitusjohtaja: "Ansaitaksamme paikkamme meidän täytyy olla parhaita" |url=https://yle.fi/a/3-11678691 |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=Yle Uutiset |language=fi}}</ref>
== Rolling stock == A total of 29 bi-directional Škoda Artic X54 units have been ordered for the line. The model, also known as Artic XL, is based on the Artic model originally designed for Helsinki's tram network and will also be used on the Crown Bridges lines. All trams are based at Roihupelto tram depot, which was built beside the {{ill|Roihupelto metro depot|fi|Roihupellon metrovarikko}} used by Helsinki Metro.<ref name="hs-artic-x54">{{Cite web |last=Salomaa |first=Marja |date=2021-04-22 |title=Tältä näyttää tulevaisuuden ratikka, joka kiitää Raide-Jokerin ja Kruunusiltojen kiskoilla |url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000007934708.html |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref>
==See also== * Trams in Finland * Helsinki tram network * Planned extension of the Helsinki tram network * Stockholm Tvärbanan
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commonscat-inline|Helsinki light rail line 15}}
{{Public transport in Helsinki}} {{Tram systems in Finland}} Category:Rail transport in Helsinki Category:Tram transport in Finland Category:Light rail in Finland Category:Railway lines opened in 2023