Year: 2020

Floor renovation at the Koivusaari metro station is progressing as planned

24.6.2020

Work to renew the floor surfaces at the Koivusaari metro station began on 1 June 2020. The demolition of the floor was completed before Midsummer, except for some finishing touches. The floor renovation has been proceeding on schedule. Some of the foundation work for the floor structures has been carried out simultaneously with the demolition work. The foundation work continued over Midsummer, and the work of the subsequent weeks will sync with the new mosaic concrete tiling work. The worksite area has been cordoned off from the metro traffic, and the metro traffic passing through the station is unaffected. The work will not cause major disturbances to the neighbourhood.

By Midsummer, most of the mosaic concrete floor of the platform level was demolished. The work continued after Midsummer with foundation work for the floor structures, after which the installation of the new floor tiles will begin.

 

The installation of the new floor tiles will begin at the end of June. The tiles will arrive at the Koivusaari metro station this week. After the installation of the tiles, the necessary final touches, final cleaning and dismantling of the worksite will be carried out, and the station will be ready to open to commuter traffic in August.

The floor renovation work will continue at the Koivusaari station until 5 August.

Länsimetro Oy is renovating the Koivusaari metro station’s floor surface at the platform level in summer 2020 due to cracks in the mosaic concrete. The floor renovation will be carried out by SRV Rakennus Oy. While the floor surface is being re-laid, from 1 June until 5 August 2020, the Koivusaari station will be closed. This means that metro cars will not stop at the station, and the station’s entrance will be closed.  Information about the progress of the Koivusaari metro station’s floor renovation will be provided on the Koivusaari station’s web pages.

For more information on alternative transit connections, please visit hsl.fi/koivusaari2020

HSL is responsible for providing information on alternative transit connections. Bus lines 20 and 104 will serve as alternative transit connections in the area. For more information, please visit hsl.fi/koivusaari2020. The information is also available in Reittiopas.

Additional information on the floor surface renovation

Koivusaari metro station’s renovation, the worksite’s 24/7 phone line: +358 (0)44 980 4326

Project Manager Reima Liikamaa, reima.liikamaa@srv.fi

Länsimetro’s feedback line (Mon–Fri, 9 am to 1 pm): +358 (0)50 377 3700

First rails for phase II of West Metro project to be installed in summer

15.6.2020

The superstructures contract for the rails of the Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section of the West Metro project has begun. The contract covers the laying of ballast, and the installation of cable ducts, sleepers, rails and the conductor rail. Once this work is completed, test runs of the metro train will be conducted on the new section in summer 2021. The first rails have already arrived at Matinkylä and are awaiting installation.

2020 will be an intense year of construction for the Matinkylä–Kivenlahti metro section. The focus of construction shifted in the spring from structural work to surfaces and interiors, HVAC and electricity and automation installations. All five metro stations as well as the rail line have several contracts under way and an increasing number of operators working on them. The Sammalvuori depot has already progressed to the testing phase. The depot will be completed this year. Overall, the project is proceeding in line with the project plan’s schedule and budget.

“The superstructures contract for the rail tunnels will begin with the laying of sub-ballast. The total length of the rail tunnel is 17.5 kilometres. The ballast will be brought into the tunnel in dump trucks: one load of ballast will cover approximately five metres of track. Noise insulation will be installed underneath the layer of ballast in both tunnels to ensure that structure-borne noise does not carry to the buildings above,” says Juha-Matti Pakka, supervisor of the rail engineering contracts on the West Metro project.

The next stage will see the switches installed in the tunnel; these will be measured and adjusted multiple times during the contract. Retaining wall elements, the top of which serves as an emergency exit route and the inside of which contains the technology required for a modern metro system, have already been installed in the tunnels as part of an earlier contract. The retaining wall’s cable ducts will be installed in conjunction with the levelling of the ballast.

The next step will be to install the sleepers in the tunnel. The section will have a total of 27,400 sleepers, supplied by Parma’s Forssa factory. The rails to be installed on the sleepers will arrive from Spain and will be welded into 120-metre lengths at Vossloh’s Kaipiainen factory. The rails will be delivered during the night via the Vuosaari harbour, through the current metro line to Matinkylä, and from there to the new section. The rails for the work track are already at Matinkylä, awaiting installation west of Matinkylä.

After the rails are installed, the track ballast will be laid using a ballast spreader that was specially made for the contract. Track ballast is laid in between the sleepers.

“After the track ballast is levelled out, the rail line will be supported and welded into a continuous track. Continuous track welding requires close monitoring and documentation of the rail’s temperature. This will ensure the smoothest and most consistent metro ride for future commuters,” says Pakka.

After the rail installation, a conductor rail will be affixed to the supports on every ninth sleeper. The conductor rail will be switched live in summer 2021, and thereafter test runs can begin.

The target schedule is to hand over the stations and rail line and their technical systems to the metro operator HKL in 2023. Länsimetro Oy will remain the owner and developer of the metro section.

 

Photos of phase II of the Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section of the track before the start of the superstructures contract.

The metro tunnel before the ballast, sleepers and rails (flickr)

A connecting tunnel linking two parallel tunnels (flickr)

A map of the West Metro line Ruoholahti–Matinkylä and Matinkylä–Kivenlahti (flickr)

Photos of the stages of phase I of the Ruoholahti–Matinkylä superstructures contract:

Keilaniemi before the installation of the rails (flickr album)

Installation of the rails in phase I (flickr album)

The track from Ruoholahti westward, before the installation of the rails (flickr album)

 

Summary of Länsimetro’s meeting of the Board of Directors on 28 May 2020

1.6.2020

The results of Länsimetro Oy’s invitation to tender for framework agreements covering Länsimetro Oy’s company and project management support services were presented to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors authorised the CEO to begin reviewing the agreements with the tenderers mentioned in the presentation in all four subcontracts and to sign framework agreements.

The status of the Sammalvuori lease agreement matter was presented to the Board. It was decided to authorise the CEO to negotiate and agree on the leasing of the Sammalvuori depot to HKL according to the principles described in the presentation and to sign the lease agreement.

A proposal concerning the bidding of environmental insurance was presented to the Board. A decision was made to take out an environmental insurance policy as laid out in the proposal.

A matter related to the distribution of the costs of Helsinki’s existing metro depot railway infrastructure between HKL and Länsimetro was presented to the Board. It was decided that Länsimetro will pay HKL for the expansion of the railway infrastructure that serves the West Metro, and that this would be covered with financing charges.

A matter related to the VIRVE network’s operator services and support station/transmission equipment was presented to the Board. It was decided to authorise the CEO to negotiate and sign the purchase agreement in line with the presentation.

The commissioning plan situation was presented to the Board. The commissioning planning is proceeding on schedule.

A status report on the construction of the Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section was presented to the Board. Construction is progressing in line with the project plan’s schedule and budget.

The status of the cost monitoring of the LM2 project as well as an updated budget were presented to the Board.

The next meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on 18 June 2020.

Further information:

Olli Isotalo, Chairman of the Board of Länsimetro Oy, tel. +358 (0)50 593 3359

Ville Saksi, CEO, Länsimetro Oy, tel. +358 (0)40 823 2086

Media contacts: Satu Linkola, Communications Director, tel. +358 (0)46 877 3392

Koivusaari metro station’s floor surfaces to be re-laid starting 1 June – station will be closed from 1 June until 5 August 2020

29.5.2020

Länsimetro Oy is renovating the Koivusaari metro station’s floor surface at the platform level in summer 2020 due to cracks in the mosaic concrete. The floor renovation will be carried out by SRV Rakennus Oy. While the floor surface is being re-laid, from 1 June until 5 August 2020, the Koivusaari station will be closed. This means that metro cars will not stop at the station, and the station’s entrance will be closed. Although the cracks do not affect the usability of the station, it was decided that the repairs should be completed as soon as possible. For that reason, in order to ensure that the floor can be completed over as brief a period as possible, the Koivusaari station will be closed while the work is carried out. This also means that disruptions caused by the work site will be concentrated in the summer season, when commuter volumes are the lowest.

The floor renovation will begin with the setting up of the worksite and demolition and protection work. The demolition stage will last roughly four weeks. Some of the foundation work for the floor structures will be carried out simultaneously over a period of four weeks. As the foundation work progresses one area at a time, the installation of new floor tiles and floor markings will be started. Finally, the necessary final touches, final cleaning and dismantling of the worksite will be carried out, and the station will be ready to open to commuter traffic in August.

The floor renovation work will take place in three shifts around the clock. The repair work will be carried out efficiently and safely such that the metro traffic passing through the station will not be disrupted, the activities at the worksite will not cause major disturbances to the neighbourhood, and the duration of the work will be as short as possible. The worksite area has been cordoned off from the metro traffic. Work that causes dust will take place inside a tent. The station’s elevators and entrance lobby will be reserved for the work site personnel during the repair work. In the event of exceptional circumstances, for instance a stop in metro traffic, commuters will be able to exit the station via the Koivusaari station’s emergency exit routes, following the instructions given.

Information about the progress of the Koivusaari metro station’s floor renovation will be provided on the Koivusaari station’s page of the website.The nearby properties will be kept up to date on the progress of the work during the construction period.

For more information on alternative transit connections, please visit hsl.fi/koivusaari2020

HSL is responsible for providing information on alternative transit connections. Bus lines 20 and 104 will serve as alternative transit connections in the area. For more information, please visit hsl.fi/koivusaari2020. The information is also available in Reittiopas.

Additional information on the floor surface renovation

Koivusaari metro station’s renovation, the worksite’s 24/7 phone line: +358 (0)44 980 4326

Project Manager Reima Liikamaa, reima.liikamaa@srv.fi

Länsimetro’s feedback line (Mon–Fri, 9 am to 1 pm): +358 (0)50 377 3700

Deliveries to the metro worksite exceptionally through Soukanraitti and Soukantori

29.5.2020

Exceptional arrangements will apply to the delivery of goods to the Soukka metro worksite’s Soukantori entrance from 1 June–7 August 2020. During the work on the retaining wall at the Soukantori entrance, some goods coming into the worksite will be exceptionally delivered via Soukanraitti and Soukantori.
The pedestrian and biking paths will be in normal use during the summer, but during the period of goods deliveries and unloading, we will direct pedestrians and cyclists in the area and ensure their safe movement and, for instance, their access to the properties along Soukantori.

We apologise for any temporary inconveniences the deliveries may cause on the pedestrian and biking paths.

Further information

24/7 phone line of the Soukka contractor, consortium YIT–ARE: +358 (0)40 628 8161

Länsimetro’s feedback line (Mon–Fri, 9 am to 1 pm): +358 (0)50 377 3700

West Metro stations’ lighting wins in Nordic illumination competition

26.5.2020

Länsimetro’s metro stations have been awarded for their lighting for the fourth time now. This time the stations’ lighting won the Nordisk Lyspris, i.e. the Nordic Lighting Design Awards 2020 competition.

The West Metro stations’ lighting was Finland’s first to win the Nordic Lighting Design Awards 2020 competition. The lighting in the public spaces of the eight metro stations that are part of phase I of the West Metro (i.e. Lauttasaari, Koivusaari, Keilaniemi, Aalto University, Tapiolan, Urheilupuisto, Niittykumpu and Matinkylä) was designed by VALOA design. The overall architectural integration was headed by CJN Architects, and the architecture of the stations was designed by Helin & Co, ALA Architects and Esa Piironen, APRT Architects and HKP Architects. The electrical design was executed by Tauno Nissinen Ltd. and the electrical contractor was Are. The light art for the stations was provided by Tommi Grönlund and Petteri Nisunen (Keilaniemi station), and Lighting Design Collective, Helin & Co (Lauttasaari station).

Architecture, art and design create the metro stations’ identity

The purpose of the Nordic Lighting Design Awards 2020 is to highlight the special features of Nordic lighting culture. The award is given to stand-out lighting designs that use daylight or artificial light, combining aesthetics, architecture, technology, quality and energy in an exemplary manner. Originality and creativity play a major role when projects are assessed.

“The key of the West Metro stations’ lighting solution is the integration of light and architecture as a coherent entirety. Each station has its own identity which is formed from the combination of architecture, art, and light. The role of lighting has been considered diversely, and the solution is subdued, but also architecturally high-quality and functioning in commuters’ everyday lives. The high-quality visual impact is created by the repetitive lighting styles, non-glare, sufficient light levels and the integration of the lighting,” says VALOA design’s CEO Roope Siiroinen, who was the lighting designer for the metro stations.

According to the jury, the lighting is well-integrated into the architecture. There is a great variety among different stations, and yet each station remains within the overall lighting concept. Every station is unique but the resemblance between them is clear. The lighting designers have been successful in developing and applying many different solutions. The jury also very much appreciates how light is used on vertical surfaces and behind glass. This gives the feeling of a larger space and facilitates orientation.

“It is a great honour for Finland and the complete team behind the design of the Helsinki metro stations to be awarded the Nordic Lighting Design Award. The award means a lot to us and feels like a well-deserved prize after years of hard work, co-operation, and building the field of lighting design,” says Roope Siiroinen of VALOA design.

The winners were announced on Wednesday, 20 May on the Nordic Lighting Design Awards 2020 Nordisk Lyspris Facebook live broadcast. The Nordic Lighting Design Awards 2020 were presented for the first time in 2000. The competition is organised every two years. Each Nordic country sends the winner from its own competition to the awards. Earlier this year, the West Metro stations won in the interior illumination category of the Lighting Design of 2019 competition, and as its winner, the West Metro’s lighting took part in the Nordic illumination competition. Read more about the Nordic Lighting Design Awards 2020.

In addition to the Nordisk Lyspris 2020 – Nordic Lighting Design Awards, the lighting for the West Metro stations has won three other competitions:   

  • LDA Lighting Design Awards 2019: Highly Commended
  • LIT Lighting Design Awards 2019: Winner
  • Lighting Design of 2019

Read about all of the West Metro stations.

Further information:

Roope Siiroinen, lighting designer and CEO, Valoa design, tel. +358 (0) 50 0510 904, roope.siiroinen@valoa.com

Satu Linkola, Communications Director, Länsimetro Oy, tel. +358 (0) 46 877 3392, satu.linkola@lansimetro.fi

Tapiolan metroaseman metrolaituri. Laiturialueen katosta löytyy 108 valaisinkupua, jotka toimivat akustisena vaimentimena. Laiturilla matkustajia tervehtii Emma-patsas.

Tapiola metro station

Aalto yliopisto -metroaseman alakatto on Corten-terästä.

Aalto University metro station

Keilaniemen metroaseman laituritasolla on Grönlund & Nisunen -taiteilijakaksikon valoputkista koostuva taideteos.

Keilaniemi metro station

Sneak peek at a metro worksite: elevator installation underway at several worksites

22.5.2020

Elevators are a conspicuous and familiar feature of metro stations and a key contributor to accessibility. There will be altogether 32 elevators on the West Metro’s Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section. The first elevator for the section was hauled to Kaitaa at the end of January and it is nearing commissioning, with only final installations left. Elevators are being installed currently at the Finnoo and Soukka metro stations, in addition to Kaitaa. The elevators will be hauled to the worksites in the summer and autumn. Their installation work will continue all the way until the start of 2021. The supplier of elevators for West Metro’s Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section is KONE Elevators Ltd.

hissikuilu
The Soukantori elevator shaft before installation has begun. The lifting height of the elevator to be installed in the shaft is 45.2 metres. The elevator and elevator equipment will be hauled to the bottom of the shaft. Installation of the elevator will proceed in the shaft from the bottom upward.

For example, a group of four elevators is currently being installed at the Soukantori entrance of Soukka metro station. Altogether 10 elevators will be installed at the station, of which six will be located at the Soukantori entrance and two inclined elevators at the entrance to Yläkartanontie. Additionally, there are two elevators at the end near the Yläkartanontie entrance, which commuters can use to travel between the platform and the intermediate level. Access to the Soukantori entrance takes place through four side-by-side elevators. In addition to the elevators, commuters may also use the escalators at the Yläkartanontie entrance.

The elevators are one of 30 subcontracts that are carried out on the entire metro line. A large proportion of the subcontracts are related to the metro’s safety. These subcontracts include standby generators, smoke extraction fans, camera surveillance, the fire alarm system and public address system for emergencies.

Ihmisiä lippulaivassa, jossa on neljän hissin ryhmä hissejä.
Access to the Soukantori entrance takes place through four side-by-side elevators. The image is a conceptual rendering of Soukantori’s ticket hall.

Temporary changes to pedestrian and bicycle routes along Hyljetie between 14 and 19 May 2020

22.5.2020

There will be temporary changes to pedestrian and bicycle routes along Hyljetie between 14 and 19 May 2020. The temporary changes result from the connection of the stormwater pipeline for the West Metro’s Hyljetie shaft worksite to HSY’s network. Pedestrians and cyclists will be redirected to an alternative route during the period in question.

We apologise for the temporary changes to pedestrian and bicycle routes due to the work.

Further information

Rail line contractor, GRK Infra Oy 24/7 phone line: +358 (0)50 516 7606

Länsimetro’s feedback line (Mon–Fri, 9 am to 1 pm): +358 (0)50 377 3700

Excavations at the entrance to Espoonlahti metro station service tunnel to start on 18 May

22.5.2020

Excavations will be carried out at the entrance of the Espoonlahti metro station service tunnel on Tähystäjänkatu starting from 18 May 2020. The excavations will take 1–2 weeks. The work will be carried out during the work hours specified by the Espoo City Environment Agency, i.e. on weekdays between 7.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. The excavation blasts will be preceded by the appropriate sound signals. Excavations will be carried out at the worksite for the service tunnel entrance foundations and sewer lines.

Once the metro is completed, the entrance to the service tunnel will be used for periodic maintenance related to the Espoonlahti metro station.

We apologise for any disturbances caused by excavations.

Further information

SRV Rakennus Oy, contractor on the Espoonlahti station, 24/7 phone line: +358 (0)40 637 5377

Länsimetro’s feedback line (Mon–Fri, 9 am to 1 pm): +358 (0)50 377 3700

Summary of Länsimetro’s meeting of the Board of Directors on 23 April 2020

14.5.2020

The Q1 report on the first phase of the West Metro and HKL’s reporting to Länsimetro were presented to the Board of Directors. (More information on the roles of the operators: Länsimetro Oy as the owner and developer of the metro system)

Länsimetro was presented with the West Metro use and property risk Q1 report.

The Board authorised the CEO to sell the shares in Kiinteistö Oy Jousenpuisto Pysäköinti at the transaction price of EUR 729.50 to the City of Espoo. Background for the decision: Jousenpuiston pysäköinti Oy arranged a directed issue in which the City of Espoo subscribed for 300,000 new shares and Länsimetro’s holding fell to a marginal level. Jousenpuiston pysäköinti Oy has proposed that Länsimetro’s shares would be purchased through a bill of sale for a redemption price of EUR 6,600. Espoo’s City Group Division decided on 24 February 2020 to buy 60 of Kiinteistö Oy Jousenpuisto Pysäköinti’s shares from Länsimetro Oy at a transaction price of EUR 729.50. The asset transfer tax on the transaction is altogether EUR 14.59. The City of Espoo will continue the park & ride operations in the parking facility.

The Board of Directors authorised the CEO to establish a company for the implementation of the Kivenlahti parking facility and to arrange the financing required for the implementation of the company to be established. The company to be established, “Koy Kivenlahden Park & ride facilities” is Länsimetro Oy’s wholly-owned subsidiary. A similar model is in use at Matinkylä (more information on Länsimetro Oy’s subsidiaries in Finnish). The facility will be completed at the latest at the end of 2023. The parking facility will include around 500 parking spaces, of which an estimated 400 will be used for park & ride.

A status report on the construction of the Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section was presented to the Board. Construction is progressing in line with the project plan’s schedule and budget.

A Q1 risk management report on the construction of the Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section was presented to the Board.

The Board was presented with the cost monitoring and financing for the construction project.

The Board of Directors decided that Länsimetro Oy’s Annual General Meeting will be held on 26 May 2020.

The next meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on 28 May 2020.

Further information:

Olli Isotalo, Chairman of the Board of Länsimetro Oy, tel. +358 (0)50 593 3359

Ville Saksi, CEO, Länsimetro Oy, tel. +358 (0)40 823 2086

Media contacts: Satu Linkola, Communications Director, tel. +358 (0)46 877 3392