FINLAND: Helsinki transport operator HKL has selected Škoda Transportation subsidiary Transtech to supply 29 trams for the future 25 km Raide-Jokeri orbital light rail line which is to be built to link Itäkeskus with Keilaniemi in Espoo.
HKL is to order the vehicles by exercising part of an option for up to 90 trams which was included in a contract for 40 cars agreed with Transtech in December 2010.
The 35 m long vehicles for the Raide-Jokeri Line will be based on the Artic cars currently in service, and a pre-series car is scheduled to be delivered in 2018-19 for testing on the existing network in parallel with the construction of the new line in 2017-21. The trams are required to have a minimum lifespan of 40 years.
The new trams would cost €95·2m, with spare parts and depot equipment adding €5·3m and HKL’s procurement expenses taking the total cost of the order to €107·5m.
