Parma Rail to supply sleepers for West Metro’s second phase

Länsimetro Oy and Parma Rail Oy have agreed on the delivery of sleepers for the Western Metro’s Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section. The delivery will consist of a total of 27,400 sleepers.

Parma Rail will also supply sleepers for West Metro’s second phase from Matinkylä to Kivenlahti. The delivery is valued at around EUR 2 million. The deliveries, involving altogether 27,400 sleepers, will begin in the summer of 2020, continuing until the end of 2020.

Parma Rail was also Länsimetro’s partner in the first phase of the project, for which it delivered some 47,000 sleepers between 2013 and 2015.

“Once again, Parma Rail provided us with an expert partner for this subcontract. This project will incorporate altogether 24 subcontracts spanning the entire metro line,” says Länsimetro Oy’s Technical Director Raimo Kaunismäki.

Parma Rail’s CEO Markku Järveläinen says that production of the sleepers will begin at their Forssa plant next summer.

“The order came at a key moment. There are of course several major rail traffic projects pending at the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, but they are still awaiting implementation decisions,” Järveläinen explains.

West Metro’s second phase is estimated to reach completion in 2023. Construction on the rail line and stations will continue up until 2022, followed by the commissioning phase. It includes the acceptance of contracts, a comprehensive testing phase and approvals by public authorities. Länsimetro Oy will have completed its task when the metro is handed over to the operator so that preparations for transit operations can begin.

Further information:

Raimo Kaunismäki, Technical Director, Länsimetro Oy, raimo.kaunismaki(at)lansimetro.fi

Tel. +358 50 390 6670

Markku Järveläinen, CEO, Parma Rail Oy, markku.jarvelainen(at)parma.fi

Tel. +358 20 577 5456

Netel to supply West Metro’s phase two GSM, VIRVE and WLAN system

Netel Oy has won the GSM, VIRVE and WLAN system contract for West Metro’s Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section. The contract is valued at around EUR 2.2 million.

The project will create antenna networks to serve commercial mobile operators, the Finnish authorities’ network VIRVE and the city’s WLAN network. The radio network contract incorporates the installation and the majority of the materials. Installation will be carried out in the parallel metro tunnels over seven kilometres of rail line, at five stations and in the service tunnels.

“Netel was already involved in the construction of West Metro’s Ruoholahti–Matinkylä section. They have demonstrated their ability to create a high-quality end result in challenging circumstances,” says Länsimetro Oy’s Technical Director Raimo Kaunismäki.

The system contract is one of 24 subcontracts that extend throughout the metro line. The work is set to start immediately and will be completed by the summer of 2021.

“The second phase of West Metro is a critical project for us and it will further increase Netel’s market share in designing and building internal networks,” says Netel’s CEO Ari Asikainen.

West Metro’s second phase is estimated to reach completion in 2023. The excavation work was finished last year. The rail line and five stations have moved on to the construction phase, which is proceeding according to schedule. HVAC and electricity work is already ongoing at the Sammalvuori depot.

Up until 2022, construction will continue at the stations and on the rail line after which we will move on to the commissioning phase, which includes the acceptance of contracts, a comprehensive testing phase and approvals by public authorities. Länsimetro Oy will have completed its task when the metro is handed over to the operator so that preparations for transit operations can begin.

Further information:
Länsimetro Oy, Technical Director Raimo Kaunismäki, raimo.kaunismaki(at)lansimetro.fi, tel. +358 050 390 6670

Netel Oy, CEO Ari Asikainen, ari.asikainen(at)netel.fi, tel. +358 50 3676755

A year of metro operations to west – the first anniversary of Matinkylä extension

Metro started operating to Matinkylä a year ago on Sunday, 18 November. In November last year, eight new metro stations opened when the 14-kilometre railway between Ruoholahti and Matinkylä in Espoo was completed. According to preliminary information, the use of public transport in Espoo has increased during the year.

Metro became the most important method of transportation in Southern Espoo and Lauttasaari when the most western part of the metro started operation on 18 November 2017. Bus lines that run along Länsiväylä motorway between Kamppi in Helsinki and Espoo became feeder lines to metro stations on 3 January 2018.

”Preliminary data on passenger volumes suggests that the metro has increased the use of public transportation in Espoo,” says Suvi Rihtniemi, the CEO of HSL.

Based on data received from mobile base stations, the number of journeys from Espoo to Helsinki on weekdays increased from December 2017 to January 2018 by around 11%, and the increase was mainly generated by the metro. Ticket sales figures also indicate that travelling has increased: in January–October 2018, Espoo residents bought 7.3% more tickets with their travel card or using a mobile application compared with the same period of time in 2017. At the same time, the growth of car traffic on Länsiväylä motorway has levelled off.

The early stages of metro and feeder busses have gone reasonably well, even though there have been some issues. At peak hours, there have been more passengers in the metro than expected, and in some areas, journey times to the centre of Helsinki have become longer following the change.

In October, HSL introduced four bus lines that operate during peak hours between Kamppi and the western part of Espoo – mainly to reduce the burden on the metro, but also to speed up journey times before the next expansion of the metro from Matinkylä to Kivenlahti will be completed. The plan is to publish information on the effects of bus lines on metro passenger numbers in the near future.

The number of passengers in the western part of the metro seems to have risen slightly during 2018. In 2018, the busiest month was September when the average number of passengers at eight new stations was 56,200 during a weekday. The previous year’s highest figure was measured in March, when the number of passengers was 54,100. The busiest station has still been Matinkylä, where in September there were 16,400 daily passengers during weekdays.

In addition to lines to Kamppi, HSL has also made other, smaller changes to the bus transport and, if necessary, changes will continue to be made.

”We keep a close eye on the number of passengers and strive to provide a good public transport service to everyone,” says Tero Anttila, Director of Public Transport Planning Department at HSL.

Exchange connections between the metro and buses in Tapiola will become considerably easier when the Tapiola bus terminal will open most likely in March. All buses through Tapiola will then be transferred to the new bus terminal that will be completed on Merituulentie.

HKL tested the frequency and transported trainers

HKL operates metro with 36 trains during the peak hours on weekdays. After the expansion of the metro, one of the lines started to run between Matinkylä–Vuosaari and the other between Tapiola–Mellunmäki. During the peak hours on weekdays, the frequency between Tapiola–Itäkeskus has been 2.5 minutes and five minutes between Matinkylä–Tapiola, Itäkeskus–Mellunmäki and Itäkeskus–Vuosaari.

“Traffic on the expanded metro line has stabilised during the year and the number of cancelled train departures due to various reasons has clearly declined. Between July and October, around 99.8% of metro traffic was run as scheduled,” says HKL’s Managing Director Lehmuskoski.

In order to level off congestion, an operating model designed by HSL and HKL was trialled by HKL at the end of August between Tapiola and Matinkylä so that three out of four metro trains ran until Matinkylä. The model turned out to be functional from the technical point of view but it also contains some operational challenges. No decisions have yet been made on the implementation of the model.

Plenty of new metro drivers have been trained this year to meet the needs of the expanded metro.

”Within the past 12 months, a total of 46 drivers have completed their training in four training periods. The fifth training period is currently ongoing,” says Ville Lehmuskoski.

Länsimetro owns the first phase metro and builds the second phase to west

After the start of operations, Länsimetro Oy remained the owner of the railway between Ruoholahti and Matinkylä. Construction continues from Matinkylä to Kivenlahti and it is progressing as planned. The construction works of all second phase stations are launched by the end of 2018. The second phase will be handed over to the operator during 2023.

“The first year has gone without teething, which we are particularly proud of. Länsimetro owns the first phase stations and the railway infrastructure, which is in the best condition in terms of its life cycle. Our duty is to be a responsible owner also in the future and ensure that the property worth a billion euros remains in good condition and serves passengers in the best possible way,” says Länsimetro Oy’s CEO Ville Saksi.

Timo Kauppila, INDAV

 

Länsimetro’s second phase achieves goals for 2018 – excavation contracts remained below the budget, construction work began on schedule

In 2018, work progressed from excavation to construction on Länsimetro’s Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section. Construction contracts were tendered out in several stages over the year, and construction began on schedule at five stations and on the rail line. The construction of the Sammalvuori depot has progressed to work on the building services. In addition to the schedule targets, also the cost targets were achieved. Excavation contracts remained approximately EUR 14 million below the budget.

During the year, the project adopted a situation management model, so called war room concept,  which is new in the construction industry. In this model, project management works in a so-called big room, monitoring the progress of planning, acquisitions, the permit process and implementation as well as occupational safety and cooperation in each construction site, i.e. the stations, the rail line and the depot. Any data from the construction sites and the various sources is processed and analysed on interactive displays. Measurement of the project’s internal communications and cooperation began in the summer. A training system, the Metro Academy, was created to support training and the exchange of information during the project. These development measures brought Länsimetro the Project of the Year award granted by Project Management Association Finland in October.

–       The second phase is now going full speed ahead. We have taken full advantage of the experiences gained and lessons learned during the first phase by revising our management model, introducing a situation management model and investing in communications. Construction-related procurements remained within budget. Excavation contracts ran smoothly and, as a whole, remained approximately EUR 14 million below the budget, says Länsimetro Oy’s CEO Ville Saksi.

Other goals were also achieved. During the year, a total of 13,400 construction and production plans were completed. The key building permits needed for starting the construction work were obtained from the construction supervision authorities. Phase two includes a total of 24 subcontracts, 17 of which were tendered out during the year. The tendering process for the contracts that will be carried out later will continue until the summer of 2019. Occupational safety remained at a good level.

In March 2018, the City of Espoo approved an adjusted project plan for the Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section. The revised cost estimate for the entire project is EUR 1,159 million. The aim is to hand over the seven kilometres of rail line and five stations and depot to the operator, Helsinki City Transport, during 2023.

Further information:

Ville Saksi, CEO, Länsimetro Oy, tel. +358 (0)40 823 2086, ville.saksi(at)lansimetro.fi

 

 

Art as part of the architecture also in the second phase

Art is planned to be included in the architecture of five new metro stations of the West Metro. Artwork will be created as a result of cooperation between architects and artists. The various forms of art will increase the comfort and identity of stations.

Art in various forms will be included in the five stations on the Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section of the West Metro. Jaakko Niemelä is the Art Coordinator in the project. His task is to ensure that the art project progresses within the agreed schedule and that there is smooth cooperation between the various parties. Art selections are made by a work group that consists of representatives from the Espoo Museum of Modern Art, the Cultural Unit of the City of Espoo, West Metro, and station architects and the principal architectural designer.

Within the art project, architecture will determine the main themes at stations.  The aim is to have art in various forms at stations; light, sound, paintings and sculpture. Artwork must also blend into the architecture of a station and be easily accessible for maintenance.

“Architects and the principal designers of stations are essential in the implementation and artists must listen to them carefully. On the one hand, specified themes for stations restrict implementation but on the other hand, it will also be easier for artists to work on a specified set of themes,” Niemelä states.

Art will increase comfort at stations but it also serves the overall design of stations – it will make navigation easier: when a passenger sees a unique piece of art from the train window and knows which station they are at with the help of the artwork.

Currently, the focus is on finding suitable art forms and themes for each station as well as locations for the artwork. “Our goal is to create an entity through cooperation so that architecture and art support each other or form interesting contrasts,” says Niemelä.

Selected artwork and artists will be published in the early part of 2019.

Further information:

Artist, West Metro project Art Coordinator Jaakko Niemelä, tel. +358 (0)50 598 4201, jaakko.niemela(at)nic.fi

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

Response to letters to the editor: longer platforms not a feasible solution

Several members of the public have written letters to the editor of the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper proposing ways to ease rush-hour congestion on the metro (Hannu Valta on 16 November, Tapio Pento on 27 November and Kauko Korpela on 30 November). Ensuring the high standard and sufficient capacity of metro services is vital for us. However, lengthening the platforms at West Metro stations or operating services using longer trains are not feasible solutions to the problem.

The current metro stations are not just tracks and a platform in between but a complex entity consisting of more than 50 systems. The ability to evacuate underground stations efficiently is a key consideration. The emergency exits (stairs and escalators) of the current West Metro stations have been designed so as to enable the safe evacuation of two full 90-metre trains arriving at the station simultaneously. Operating 135-metre trains at the stations would require a 50% increase in the emergency exits’ capacity. This would require major structural changes, and many stations would need to be practically rebuilt.

Lengthening platforms and operating services with longer trains would also require redesigning the stations’ technical facilities, fire doors, crossovers, points, signage, etc. This would be a laborious process that would probably require discontinuing the operation of metro services for a period of several years. The solution would be extremely challenging and expensive to implement.

However, there are other ways to increase the standard of service and capacity. More frequent services can be operated if passenger numbers increase. Helsinki City Transport, the Helsinki Regional Transport Authority and Länsimetro Oy are about to begin a feasibility study on the best way to increase the number of services. One way to increase the number of services would be to adopt more sophisticated traffic control systems. Automation has been used successfully to increase the capacity of underground systems around the world.

Another solution in addition to increasing the number of services could be to extend the line that currently terminates in Tapiola further west. The Cities of Espoo and Helsinki, together with the Helsinki Regional Transport Authority, are exploring this option as well as the possibility of improving the standard of service by building a new turnaround track to the west.

In the short term, congestion on the metro can be eased by less drastic measures such as supplementary bus services. The Helsinki Regional Transport Authority has been operating a bus service between Kamppi and Espoonlahti since October.

Tero Anttila, Director of Public Transport Planning Department, Helsinki Regional Transport Authority

Ville Lehmuskoski, Managing Director, Helsinki City Transport

Ville Saksi, CEO, Länsimetro Oy

 

International expertise for the second phase – smoke extraction fans to be supplied by Talleres Zitrón S.A.

Smoke extraction fans for the Matinkylä-Kivenlahti section will be supplied by Spanish manufacturer Talleres Zitrón S.A. The total contract price is EUR 1.8 million.

Smoke extraction fans are used in the event of fire to exhaust smoke from underground areas through smoke zone routes to open air. Smoke extraction fans are installed on vertical shafts in the metro line and in the east and west ends of stations. The second-phase metro line and stations will have a total of 15 extraction fans. Talleres Zitrón also supplied a total of 32 extraction fans for the first phase of the West Metro from Ruoholahti to Matinkylä.

Operation of the smoke extraction fans was tested on the first phase of the West Metro by means such as passenger rescue drills before metro service was begun. The 52 different systems of the West Metro guarantee passenger safety at all times, including emergencies. High-performance smoke extraction fans exhaust smoke quickly through the correct routes to ensure that passengers can be evacuated safely.  In the West Metro, the movement of passengers between tunnels has been facilitated by, for example, constructing fire compartmented connecting tunnels in intervals of some 150 meters and by equipping both tunnels with prefabricated concrete units whose covers that serve as emergency exits.

Talleres Zitrón supplies smoke extraction fans for demanding applications, such as the metro projects in London, Milan and Rome. The company has supplied extraction fans to some 100 metro systems around the world.  The first smoke extraction fans will be delivered to Kivenlahti in the summer of 2019.

The second phase of the West Metro is estimated to be completed in 2023. This year, work has progressed from excavation to construction.  The project management contractors for all five stations and the rail line have been selected, and construction will begin at all stations by the end of the year. On the rail line, some 360 supporting wall elements have already been installed over a distance of 1.5 kilometres. The tendering of subcontracts will continue until summer 2019. At the Sammalvuori depot, work has already progressed to technical building services.

Construction on the stations and rail line will continue until 2022, after which the project will proceed to the commissioning phase. This includes the acceptance of contracts, extensive testing and regulatory approvals. Länsimetro’s share of the project will be completed once the metro is handed over to the operator to begin preparations for passenger traffic.

More information:
Länsimetro Oy, Technical Director Raimo Kaunismäki, tel.  050 390 6670

Photo: Talleres Zitrón S.A

RIA Member of the Year 2018, Länsimetro Oy’s CEO Ville Saksi: “This award is for the whole team”

The Association of Finnish Construction Engineers and Architects (RIA) has chosen Länsimetro Oy’s CEO Ville Saksi as RIA Member of the Year 2018.

RIA wanted to give Saksi recognition for his solid leadership skills and construction know-how as well as his broad experience of all areas of the industry. The panel based its choice on Saksi’s exemplary leadership of a challenging project that has allowed him to gain the trust and respect of all the partners and workers involved in the project.

“Being voted RIA Member of the Year was a pleasant surprise. However, I would like to stress that complex projects such as this one are always a team effort and not a personal achievement, and this award is for the whole team”, Saksi says.

Before Länsimetro Oy, Saksi was the CEO of VR Track Oy. He has a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering.

Works on the West Metro’s Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section are currently progressing well in light of all the key indicators.

“All the tunnel excavation works have been completed, and approximately 70% of the construction budget has been spent. Our contractors have also been happy with the chosen contracting model. It seems that we have succeeded in winning the contractors’ trust”, Saksi says.

The RIA Member of the Year award will be presented to Saksi next week.

Elevators and escalators for the stations along the Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section to be supplied by KONE

KONE Elevators Ltd has been chosen as the supplier of the elevators and escalators for the Matinkylä-Kivenlahti section. 31 elevators will be installed, 4 of which will be inclined elevators.  The price of the elevators is EUR 6.7 million. KONE Elevators Oy also won the escalator tender. There will be 14 groups of escalators (42 escalators) on the section, the longest of which will be installed in the Finno station. The longest escalator in Finland can currently be found at the Koivusaari station. The price of the escalators will be EUR 11 million.

A passenger’s metro journey either begins or ends with escalators or elevators. The user experience is enhanced when planning and implementation take account of people’s everyday behaviour. The number-one priority is safety, but comfort and reliability are also important considerations.

“Many of the technical systems on which the West Metro relies are not visible to passengers. Elevators and escalators are a visible and important part of underground travel, passengers’ experience and accessibility at underground stations. KONE is a global supplier with experience of moving large numbers of passengers around in places such as the biggest cities in China. The underground systems there can serve millions of passengers on a daily basis”, explains Länsimetro Oy’s CEO Ville Saksi.

The West Metro is one of the safest underground systems in the world. Since the elevators are fire-compartmentalised, they can also be used during fires. Special attention has also been given to the comfort of elevators and escalators: the stations are brightly lit and the elevator shafts are predominantly made of glass, the announcements on the public address system have been customised and there is a display inside each elevator that tells passengers the time remaining until the next level.

“It is a great pleasure and honour for us to also be involved in the second stage of the West Metro project. This project is perfect for our mission: to improve the flow of urban life. Our solutions for moving large numbers of people around and our smart KONE 24/7 Connected Services concept allow us to make underground travel an even smoother experience for passengers”, says KONE Elevators Ltd’s Managing Director Karla Lindahl.

Installation works for elevators and escalators are due to begin towards the end of 2019. The goal is to hand over the seven-kilometre rail line together with its five stations and depot to the operator, Helsinki City Transport, during 2023.

Further information:
Länsimetro Oy, CEO Ville Saksi, tel. +358 40 823 2086, ville.saksi@lansimetro.fi

KONE Elevators Ltd, Managing Director Karla Lindahl, tel. +358 40 720 1134, karla.lindahl@kone.com

Contract awarded for the supply of tracks for the Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section

The tracks for the Matinkylä–Kivenlahti section will be supplied by Vossloh Rail Services Finland Oy. The budget for the works is EUR 2.0 million.

The contract covers laying a total of 34 kilometres of tracks. The tracks are being welded in Kaipiainen near Kouvola, and they will be supplied in 120-metre pieces. The tracks will enter the tunnel in Vuosaari, from where they will be transported through the existing underground network all the way to the beginning of the new section. The deliveries will take place at night so as to not disturb passenger transport. Tracklaying is scheduled to begin towards the end of the summer of 2020 in connection with superstructure works.

Vossloh Rail Services Finland Oy also supplied the tracks for the first section of the West Metro, and the company is the leading operator in the industry in Finland.

Excavation works along the line being constructed during the second stage of the West Metro project were completed in January 2018. The construction of the Matinkylä–Kivenlaakso section began in the summer of 2018.  Graniittirakennus Kallio has been contracted to construct 17.5 kilometres of new tracks, seven shafts and 32 connecting tunnels. The goal is to hand over the seven-kilometre rail line together with its five stations and depot to the operator, Helsinki City Transport, during 2023.

Further information:

Länsimetro Oy, Technical Director Raimo Kaunismäki. raimo.kaunismaki@lansimetro.fi, tel.  +358 50 390 6670

Photo: INDAV Oy