In Helsinki, politicians are holding out hope for cheaper public transport

The price of a tram ticket makes many people turn to rides from an international platform company.

Last year, Helsinki Regional Transport (HSL) decided to increase public transport ticket prices in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area by an average of eight percent in 2025.

It is now planned that ticket prices could increase by around six percent per year in the coming years. The background is a calculation by HSL experts of how much ticket prices should be increased so that the member municipalities’ share of HSL’s funding could be calculated in the way the municipalities want.

On the other hand, the City of Helsinki has just agreed on its strategy for the coming years as a result of negotiations between the National Coalition Party, the Left Parties and the Finnish People’s Party. One goal of the strategy is that real ticket prices, taking inflation into account, could even fall from the 2026 level.

Helsinki politicians are under pressure to actually lower the price of a single ticket. Now, the same ticket, which costs just over three euros, can be used to travel from Kallio to Rautatientori and from Espoo to Helsinki. Former mayor Jan Vapaavuori has called taxis for trips within the city center extortionate prices.

It sounds familiar, especially to travelers without season tickets. Many have begun to notice that taking an electric scooter or a group taxi is even cheaper than taking public transportation in the city center.

Promises have been made, but in the current economic situation, politicians and HSL officials will not find it easy to fulfill their wishes.

Helsinki has an interest in persuading other HSL municipalities, especially Vantaa and Espoo, to pay more for public transport.

In the capital, parties from right to left do want to lower ticket prices. It would be worth it to succeed. It is a shame for the capital that the price of a tram ticket raises the threshold for moving around the inner city and makes many turn to rides from an international platform company.