Today, on Tuesday, 3rd of October, Länsimetro Oy and HKL signed a protocol transferring the management of the West Metro rail and stations to HKL. In practice, the transfer of management means that HKL may now fully begin the so-called initial production phase which precedes passenger traffic.
Länsimetro Oy remains responsible for a number of tasks which Länsimetro Oy shall finalise during the initial production phase before passenger traffic is commenced. The finalisation of these tasks has been scheduled.
The rail, its technical systems and the eight stations remain in the ownership of Länsimetro Oy. HKL shall report to Länsimetro Oy on the use of the rail and stations and the related service and maintenance tasks as agreed.
In a few days time, HKL will initiate the joint use of all 52 systems of the metro as well as their regular maintenance and testing. The systems control, for example, the technical building services, monitoring, operation, rail and safety of the West Metro. The systems are tested to ensure that they operate reliably and traffic services may begin without disruptions.
During the initial production phase, further test runs are also carried out for the entire metro line.
Before passenger traffic can begin, the systems must operate without disruption for a continuous period of two weeks in the initial production phase, after obstacles to the commencement of passenger traffic have been removed and the necessary tests completed. A sufficient number of successful test run days is required for the metro to be opened for traffic. After this, HSL shall decide on the commencement of passenger traffic.
Further information:
Ville Lehmuskoski, Managing Director, HKL, tel. +358 40 520 6710
Ville Saksi, CEO, Länsimetro Oy, tel. +358 40 823 2086