Overview
The Ring Rail Line is an essential part of the urban line network that improves public transport in the entire Helsinki region. The Ring Rail Line provides an important public transport link between the main line and the Vantaankoski line, via the airport.
New SM5 low-floor trains designed for commuter services operate on the Ring Rail Line. These run at 10-minute intervals in both directions during peak periods. Rail capacity can be utilized more efficiently since trains are able to run in a loop. The journey time from the centre of Helsinki to the airport is about half an hour. The maximum line speed is 120 km/h.
Passengers coming on long-distance trains from the north can change trains in Tikkurila. The trip from Tikkurila to the airport will take about eight minutes.
The Ring Rail Line is a two-track urban line reserved exclusively for passenger traffic. It has surface stations at Vehkala, Kivistö and Leinelä as well as the Aviapolis and Airport tunnel stations. Plans allow for additional stations underground at Ruskeasanta and Viinikkala and on the surface at Petas. The busiest stations are Kivistö and Airport.
The Ring Rail Line goes under the airport in an 8-kilometre tunnel with two tubes. Coming from the west the tunnel begins on the northeast side of the Katriinantie-Tikkurilantie intersection and resurfaces in Ilola to the east of Laaksotie and south of Koivukylänväylä.
Connecting corridors are excavated at intervals of about 200 metres between the two tubes. In an emergency, these can be used to exit to the other tube. Special emphasis has been placed on operational safety in planning and execution.