Helsinki Region Transport (HSL) reminds passengers that track modernisation between Helsinki Central Station and Oulunkylä will continue to disrupt night-time K, P and T services until the early hours of Saturday, 26 September. From roughly 00:50 to 04:20 each night, P-trains from Helsinki Airport terminate at Oulunkylä, with rail-replacement bus 699X shuttling travellers to the city centre. Business travellers landing on Finnair’s late Asian arrivals have been hardest hit, as the P-train is normally the 30-minute backbone of the “train-to-gate” promise at Helsinki Airport. HSL says bus capacity is sufficient but cautions that journeys may take 20 minutes longer, and luggage racks are limited. Taxi queues at the airport have lengthened after midnight, prompting the airport operator Finavia to open an overflow ride-hailing lane. The works are part of a €290 million signalling upgrade designed to increase future frequencies on the Ring Rail Line, including a mooted express service to support the EU Entry/Exit System’s fingerprint enrolment booths at the airport. While the project is essential, the lack of a through-night rail link exposes the vulnerability of Finland’s only air-rail connector, a concern for global-mobility teams that schedule 24-hour crew layovers. Travellers departing Finland before 06:00 on 26 September should allow extra time or pre-book taxis. HSL’s Journey Planner app has real-time bus data, and corporate travel policies may need temporary amendments to reimburse taxi costs incurred due to the disruption.
Source: HSL (Helsinki Region Transport)
