In Leppävaara, you can easily get to the railway track and its future extension to the City Rail Link and the long-distance train network by express tram. Leppävaara is a commercially attractive area and thanks to the new light rail, its services are even easier to reach. In Otaniemi and Keilaniemi, the Jokeri tram stops near the metro stations.
New residential buildings and workplaces have already been built and more are planned for the light rail. The Jokeri tram has, for example, accelerated the construction of the Vermonniity area in Perkkaa. It has also influenced the development of Keilaniemi. Keilaniemi, known for the headquarters of large public companies, is developing into a unique seaside area with residential, office and hotel buildings. Aalto University plays a key role in the fact that the Jokeri tram passes through Otaniemi.
“Jokeri Raide supports Espoo’s network-like urban structure and promotes the city’s sustainable development and growth, as housing, workplaces and services are located along good public transport connections,” says Olli Isotalodeputy mayor responsible for the urban environment.
Rail transport supports Espoo’s goal of being carbon neutral by 2030.
Test runs will be completed during the spring
Test runs on the Jokeri track start in Espoo on Wednesday, February 1. At this point, the express tram runs from Helsinki’s Pitäjänmäki to Leppävaara’s Alberganesplanadi. Test drives will continue on this section until the end of February. In March, the test drive area extends from Alberganesplanadi to the last stop in Keilaniemi. The test drives will then continue in Helsinki.
In each area, the testing begins with a low-speed test to see how the tram moves on the tracks. The next step is to test the functionality of the traffic light and switch control systems and to do test drives in dark conditions. The process ends with test runs at full operating speed.
The construction of Joker’s light rail car started in the summer of 2019. The project has progressed ahead of schedule.
The test runs will be completed during the spring, after which it will be known whether the risk reserves related to the schedule can be removed. The Jokeri tram will start operating at the beginning of 2024 at the latest, but preparations are underway as part of the construction project and in terms of tram deliveries and driver training to enable an earlier start in the fall of 2023. It is expected that the decision to start operations will be made during the summer.
The length of the Jokeri track is about 25 kilometers, of which 16 are in Helsinki and 9 in Espoo. The Jokeri tram will replace the current bus line 550, the capacity of which is insufficient to accommodate the growing number of passengers.
HT
Source: ANI
Source: The Nordic Page