Frequently asked questions
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Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about the Turku tramway, its route and stops, and how to participate in planning of the tramway.
General
The current Turku Tramway implementation planning is based on the Port-Varissuo master plan approved by the City Council in October 2023.
The tramway is a holistic urban development project that will shape the development of the city and the whole urban area for decades to come. It is part of the public transport reform of a growing city, ensuring that everyday life and mobility in Turku will continue to run smoothly in the future.
The tramway will support urban growth and make public transport more attractive. It is estimated that in 2050, around 30 percent of Turku residents, 46 percent of jobs and 42 percent of residential construction will be within 600 metres of the planned Port-Varissuo tramway stops.
The tramway will improve the quality of the urban environment. Under the master plan, all streets along the tramway line will be almost completely renewed. Conditions for walking and cycling will be improved and the quality of the street environment will be significantly enhanced. The tramway will make the urban environment more pleasant.
The tramway will increase land and property values as it is a permanent solution, increasing predictability and confidence for entrepreneurs, investors, developers and residents. A rough estimate made at the master plan stage suggests that ticket and real estate revenues could cover the municipal economic impact of the tramway in 30 years.
The City of Turku aims to be carbon neutral by 2029. Emissions from transport account for about one third of the city’s total emissions. The tramway is a sustainable form of public transport that will help contribute to reducing transport emissions and achieving ambitious climate targets. It also helps to manage urban sprawl and improve the efficiency of services and infrastructure.
The construction schedule will be refined during the ongoing planning phase. The aim is to start construction in 2026, if the city council decides to invest in it.
The total cost estimate for the design and construction of the tramway in the Port-Varissuo Master Plan, published in spring 2023, was EUR 344 million. The total cost estimate for the Master Plan was calculated at the cost level of May 2022, when the civil engineering cost index was 125.31 (2015=100). The cost estimate for trams was €42 million.
At the master plan stage, costs have been calculated on the basis of a more rough design, statistical data and previous experience from other tramway projects. Therefore, the cost estimate includes a risk margin of 15-25%.
The total cost estimate will be refined during the implementation planning phase. At the time of the decision, the Council has a total cost estimate that is binding on the parties to the alliance.
The City of Turku aims to be carbon neutral by 2029. Emissions from transport account for about one third of the city’s total emissions. The tramway is a sustainable form of public transport that will help contribute to increasing the use of public transport, reducing transport emissions and meeting climate targets.
The master plan estimates that emissions from construction can be reversed in the long term, but the key is to minimize the emissions generated. The implementation planning will determine how to reduce the environmental impact of the tramway.
Route and stops
The Turku Tramway route runs from the port of Turku via the city centre to Varissuo. The depot is planned at the end of Kiertotähdentie in Iso-Heikkilä. The route is about 12 km long and has 20 pairs of stops.
The planned Port-Varissuo tram line will connect Turku’s growing areas and major urban development sites, such as the maritime Turku, the city centre and the Science Park.
The Varissuo line has the highest number of passengers of the existing public transport routes. In particular, the development of the Science Park area will increase the number of passengers in the future.
The Market Square-Humalistonkatu route was chosen over the travel centre route due to lower costs and higher passenger numbers. If it is decided to build a tramway, the Travel Centre would be naturally linked to the tramway line in the next phases.
The locations and number of tram stops have been designed to best serve both existing and future settlements and services. Stops are located in key locations close to where land use potential is greatest.
One stop is estimated to add one minute to the journey time, which is why stops cannot be too frequent.
The current bus network in the Turku region will be replaced by a frequent and extensive main lines and complementary lines on 1 July 2025.
The Port-Varissuo tram line will change the planned bus service, including the planned main lines 3, 4, 7A and 11. The changes to the bus routes are described in Chapter 6.5 of the Master Plan Report.
Planning and participation
The Turunraitiotie.fi website brings together all the latest information on the progress of the Turku tramway planning.
Previous plans, studies and assessments can be found at turku.fi/raitiotie.
Inquiries and questions can be sent by e-mail to info@turunraitiotie.fi.
Up-to-date information about the tramway is also shared on our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
The most important news and upcoming events can be found in our newsletter. Subscribe to our newsletter here.
The progress of the tramway planning will also be communicated at various events and activities.
Turun Raitiotie Oy is a company owned by the City of Turku and is responsible for the implementation planning phase of the tramway.
The Turku Tramway is being planned and possibly built by the Turku Tramway Alliance, which includes Turun Raitiotie Oy, Turun kaupunki, NRC Group Finland Oy, GRK Suomi Oy, Ramboll Finland Oy and Sweco Finland Oy.
The final planning phase of the Port-Varissuo tramway is now underway, ahead of possible construction.
- We are preparing drafts of the street plans and principles of traffic management.
- We calculate the cost of building the tramway and plan a construction schedule.
- We prepare the procurement of the trams.
During the planning process, the necessary zoning changes will also be made and the effects of the tramway will be assessed extensively, including on land use, the local economy and businesses.
The alliance model integrates the different parties involved, i.e. clients, designers and contractors, into a single organisation. The model includes an incentive scheme based on the achievement of key objectives of the alliance. The parties share all the risks and benefits of the project, thus committing them to common objectives.
The alliance model was chosen as the implementation model for the Turku tramway because of its reliable cost estimation and quality assurance.