Helsinki visit

[Gordon]

I am planning to visit Helsinki.

I visited for the day once before on a cruise ship itinerary and spent an hour or so photting trains at the main station (luckily two ICs departed and one arrived in that time).

However this will be a slightly longer visit and I am very much into freight photography.

Can anyone advise if there is a decent freight watching location within the city confines or not far away.

The link recently posted by a member saying that freight trains are included in Finland's 'version' of Realtime trains would help gauge traffic once the location is suggested.

Many thanks in advance

 

[rf_ioliver]

Not a lot of frieght inside the city. You could go out to Kerava (local service, K, R and Z-tains) and you might catch the freight to and from Vuosaari harbour. Savio station just south of Kerava and just north of the Vuosaari tunnel north entrance is also a good place for freight. Local commuter trains run every 10 minutes.

https://juliadata.fi/ is *the* site for everything and I think it runs well via Google Translate.
Live map: https://juliadata.fi/map/view?mode=trains#8.62/60.4794/24.9356
Today's trains at Kerava: https://juliadata.fi/timetables?s=kerava&d=30.12.2022
Freight trains use a number beginning with T (also look out for TYÖ for works trains and VET for light engine moves, T=Tavara - freight, TYÖ = work, VET=veturi, locomotive).

I see 10 frieght trains running via Kerava today, 1 works train and 5 light engine movements.

You can also follow the movements of a train, eg: https://juliadata.fi/timetables?s=3760&d=30.12.2022 left Tampere 100 minutes late, arrived Vuosaari 27 late.

The other option is to take a metro and then walk/bus out to Vuosaari harbour - there are some walks around there and you can get a good look (Tryvikintie, https://wego.here.com/?map=60.22751,25.16877,18,satellite) at the freight yard and tunnels leading to the harbour. If you fancy a slightly longer walk (and there are busses) then you can visit Finland's longest rail tunnel southern entrance at Lansisalmentie (https://wego.here.com/?map=60.25531,25.13406,18,satellite)

A further option is to head out a little further, eg: Hyvinkää or Riihimäki (the latter has a depot) which would see more freight, eg: passing Hyvinkäö today: https://juliadata.fi/timetables?s=hyvinkää&d=30.12.2022 I see 16 freight/work/light engine. Hyvinkää also has the Finnish railway museum!!

Send me a PM if you need any more information.

 

[Gordon]

Not a lot of frieght inside the city. You could go out to Kerava (local service, K, R and Z-tains) and you might catch the freight to and from Vuosaari harbour. Savio station just south of Kerava and just north of the Vuosaari tunnel north entrance is also a good place for freight. Local commuter trains run every 10 minutes.

https://juliadata.fi/ is *the* site for everything and I think it runs well via Google Translate.
Live map: https://juliadata.fi/map/view?mode=trains#8.62/60.4794/24.9356
Today's trains at Kerava: https://juliadata.fi/timetables?s=kerava&d=30.12.2022
Freight trains use a number beginning with T (also look out for TYÖ for works trains and VET for light engine moves, T=Tavara - freight, TYÖ = work, VET=veturi, locomotive).

I see 10 frieght trains running via Kerava today, 1 works train and 5 light engine movements.

You can also follow the movements of a train, eg: https://juliadata.fi/timetables?s=3760&d=30.12.2022 left Tampere 100 minutes late, arrived Vuosaari 27 late.

The other option is to take a metro and then walk/bus out to Vuosaari harbour - there are some walks around there and you can get a good look (Tryvikintie, https://wego.here.com/?map=60.22751,25.16877,18,satellite) at the freight yard and tunnels leading to the harbour. If you fancy a slightly longer walk (and there are busses) then you can visit Finland's longest rail tunnel southern entrance at Lansisalmentie (https://wego.here.com/?map=60.25531,25.13406,18,satellite)

A further option is to head out a little further, eg: Hyvinkää or Riihimäki (the latter has a depot) which would see more freight, eg: passing Hyvinkäö today: https://juliadata.fi/timetables?s=hyvinkää&d=30.12.2022 I see 16 freight/work/light engine. Hyvinkää also has the Finnish railway museum!!

Send me a PM if you need any more information.

Really helpful thanks

 

[dutchflyer]

HEL and its surroundings allso form a kind of German Verkehrsverbund with 24 and 72 hr tickets for 3 zones, of which A=city proper and C reaches quite far out. Tickets can be bought from any machine, all also have /se/ and /en/. LIkely best way to get around without much worries, once you have the ticket no more validation etc needed. Besides that there are also the usual HEL/Citycards, including same (probably only zone A) and various touristy entries or discounts.

 

[rf_ioliver]

HEL and its surroundings allso form a kind of German Verkehrsverbund with 24 and 72 hr tickets for 3 zones, of which A=city proper and C reaches quite far out. Tickets can be bought from any machine, all also have /se/ and /en/. LIkely best way to get around without much worries, once you have the ticket no more validation etc needed. Besides that there are also the usual HEL/Citycards, including same (probably only zone A) and various touristy entries or discounts.

For HSL: A and B zones are sold together, there isn't an "A only". The only zone sold as a single zone is D. Tickets are sold either a "kertalippu", valid for varying amonuts of time depending on zones, or as day tickets from 1 to 13 days. Then there are the season tickets for up to a year.

The Helsinki City Card is a separate thing but does allow some travel, the description uses the words "Rajoittamaton matkustusoikeus" meaning "unlimited travel rights" .. which I would assume includes zones A and B.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I don't know if you like steam haulage, but when I was in Helsinki some years ago, there was a regular Steam service from the main station that lasted for a couple of hours into the countryside, it was very good. Not sure if it still runs. You can no doubt Google it to find out.

 

[rf_ioliver]

I don't know if you like steam haulage, but when I was in Helsinki some years ago, there was a regular Steam service from the main station that lasted for a couple of hours into the countryside, it was very good. Not sure if it still runs. You can no doubt Google it to find out.

That would be the to/ftom the Porvoo Museum line most likely, though some steam charters are about. PMR actually run the Dm7 diesel railcars and the steam trains by another company... https://www.porvoonmuseorautatie.fi/
"Junan kulkupäivät julkaistaan kevättalvella 2023 ja aikataulu hieman myöhemmin." == Operating days will be announced early spring 2023 and timetables a little later.

Haapamäen museoveturiyhdistys ry run a smaller steam train - this is usually the one that makes regular (a few times per year) runs between Helsinki and Porvoo...no details on 2023 yet as far as I can see here: https://www.facebook.com/Haapamaen.museoveturiyhdistys.ry/

You might get runs with Ukko Pekka, but their website has no details of upcoming trips (and the Englsh section is pretty sparse): https://hoyryjuna.weebly.com/


The main source for anything coming up can be found at our vesion of RailUkForums: http://vaunut.org/keskustelut/index.php/board,4.0.html - Google Translate


Let me know some dates and I'll see what I can find.

 

[Taunton]

I went to the railway museum at Hyvinkaa (main line from Helsinki to Tampere) a few years ago and it was well worthwhile, if you have time for the trip. Discussed here at the time, with same helpful locals as above:

Finland break of journey - and comments on Finnish national rail museum

I want to go from Tampere to Helsinki and back in a day, breaking the journey one way at Hyvinkaa railway museum. No messing about with advance purchase, just will buy at the ticket office when ready. Are standard tickets valid for break of journey as desired? I presume translating "break of...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Gordon]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have been photographing steam in Europe since about 1969, so yes I like steam, but I've never been terribly excited by specials so I won't be worrying about that too much. Any overt railway related activity will be fairly brief and also, a relative in our party has restricted mobility.

 

[rf_ioliver]

www.vaunut.org <-- any contributions will be welcome there

 

[Gordon]

Hi folks

Our visit is coming up next week.

Does anyone have any updates or further thoughts?

Many thanks in advance

 

[bussikuski179]

There’s a fair bunch of freight stuff running through Kerava next week, as well as a metro train returning to the network for refurbishment, which runs along the mainline from Käpylä to Kerava. Schedule for that is here: https://juliadata.fi/timetables?s=4947&d=31.5.2023
Vuosaari is also a pretty decent place to see freight, less of a ****hole than Kerava and in zone B as opposed to D. For the place that freight trains run, get a metro all the way to Vuosaari and get the number 90 or 818 bus.

Juliadata is absolutely brilliant for all the rail stuff, it’s honestly fairly usable without even really needing to translate much, though I do speak fluent Finnish.

Overall do enjoy your visit, Helsinki is great.

 

[eoff]

I went to the railway museum at Hyvinkaa (main line from Helsinki to Tampere) a few years ago and it was well worthwhile, if you have time for the trip. Discussed here at the time, with same helpful locals as above:

Interesting as I have 4.5hours at Helsinki airport on Monday, not sure it is enough time though, and from what I remember Finland trains are really annoying as you have to choose specific trains.

 

[bubieyehyeh]

You can use the local transform ticket on the public ferry to the island fort I can't remember the name of.

There is also a Mig fighter plane on the roof of a shopping centre which was a a surprize, near the bloke pissing statue.

 

[Ianigsy]

You can use the local transform ticket on the public ferry to the island fort I can't remember the name of.

There is also a Mig fighter plane on the roof of a shopping centre which was a a surprize, near the bloke pissing statue.

Suomenlinna?

It’s a few year since I was there but I took a trip on the metro, which was very orange.

 

[bubieyehyeh]

Suomenlinna?

yep thats the island fort.

Checking google maps, its was a mig21, but google says the roof terrace is temp. closed.

 

[rf_ioliver]

Interesting as I have 4.5hours at Helsinki airport on Monday, not sure it is enough time though, and from what I remember Finland trains are really annoying as you have to choose specific trains.

Not commuter trains, only the long-distance trains. The airport is served by Kehärata (ring line), takes about 20 minutes to Helsinki. If you wanted to get to Kerava then it takes about 38 minutes with a change in Tikkurila.

Buy a day ticket for Helsinki (or Vantaa + Helsinki, Zones A, B and C IIRC) and you can use all public transport: commuter trains, ferries, trams etc.

Suomenlinna?

It’s a few year since I was there but I took a trip on the metro, which was very orange.

The metro line is now completed out to Kivenlahti. The Espoo stations are worth seeing for their architecture.

 

[Taunton]

Interesting as I have 4.5hours at Helsinki airport on Monday, not sure it is enough time though, and from what I remember Finland trains are really annoying as you have to choose specific trains.

I wouldn't think that's enough time at all, factoring in waiting times at points along the way. You might just make it with a rental car out of the airport direct up the motorway to the museum, probably about 50 minutes drive, but with getting out of and back into the airport it would leave little time to actually see the museum.

 

[rf_ioliver]

I wouldn't think that's enough time at all, factoring in waiting times at points along the way. You might just make it with a rental car out of the airport direct up the motorway to the museum, probably about 50 minutes drive, but with getting out of and back into the airport it would leave little time to actually see the museum.

No chance, once you're out of the airport and made you way to Hyvinkää - that's about an hour journey on the train. Then you have to walk to the museum from the station - not far, but 10-15 minutes.

@eoff - you only need seat reservations on long-distance trains *not* commuter trains.

 

[eoff]

Thanks for the info on the museum, maybe another time.

 

[rvdborgt]

you only need seat reservations on long-distance trains *not* commuter trains.

Only on night trains IIRC. Day time IC trains have optional reservations. They're not indicated in the train, which can be annoying. You can check occupation on the VR website though.

 

[rf_ioliver]

Only on night trains IIRC. Day time IC trains have optional reservations. They're not indicated in the train, which can be annoying. You can check occupation on the VR website though.

Seat reservation is in the ticket price. I travel with VR frequently.

 

[rvdborgt]

Seat reservation is in the ticket price.

If you buy regular tickets, then that is the case. However, if you have a pass, such as Interrail, then reservations are not included and you may or may not want to buy one. On day trains, they're not mandatory in any case.