There are major changes in store for commuters who use Helsinki's Metro services this summer.
Starting on Monday, the Metro's Central Railway Station stop will be closed until the beginning of September, due to renovation work.
This means the Metro will not run through the city centre this summer, and there will be fewer departures than normal.
For the duration of the summer months, Metro trains coming from eastern Helsinki will stop at the University of Helsinki station while those coming from the west will stop at the Kamppi station.
The changes were seen during Monday morning's rush hour, as the westward line stopped at the University of Helsinki station and passengers were instructed to continue their journeys on foot or by tram.
Extra tram routes have been added (9 and 9B) to connect the two Metro stations in downtown Helsinki.
Renovations also began on the Mellunmäki Metro station in eastern Helsinki on Monday, which will to keep that station shut down until September, as well. Meanwhile, the Metro stations Kontula and Myllypuro will shut down for renovations, later this summer.
Informing passengers
HSL organised extra staff at the University of Helsinki Metro station on Monday to advise passengers about the changes. HSL guide Anastasia Mantulina was on duty from 7am and told Yle that passengers seemed to accept the situation.
"No one has yet said, 'help, what's going on here,'" Mantulina said, adding the most frequently asked question was about the fastest route to the Kamppi Metro station.
She advised them to head up to the street level and hop on tram 9B.
"It seems that a large number of people know how to get around despite the re-routes," she noted.
One commuter, Ville Mäkäläinen, said he normally commutes to work via the Central Railway Station, but considers himself lucky because his workplace is also within walking distance of the University of Helsinki Metro stop.
"Thanks to the City of Helsinki, you can enhance your health by taking a few extra steps here. I can understand the reluctance, though, if you have to continue westward," he said.
The renovation was announced via several different channels a couple of months ago, according to HSL's Head of Information Joona Packalén, with regular reminders.
Packalén said he believes that the worst of the Monday morning rush is over, so any problems have already been detected, if there were any.
"Sure, there is congestion, but otherwise everything seems to be running smoothly," he told Yle, adding that alternate routes can also be found in HSL's Journey Planner mobile app.
The number of people using the Metro will decrease after Midsummer, according to Packalén, but until then he said that HSL will keep a close eye on the situation.
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