Helsinki’s new line 13 is very similar to the existing line 15, which is branded as “light rail”. Why is 13 not being called “light rail”? It will soon even use the same trams as line 15.
The video is in finnish, turn on subtitles if you don’t speak the language :D
There is a category called tram-train.
Here where I live light rail uses similar signalling control systems to normal rail, they are just not connected to the national network. From that definition, this would be called a tram here.
Subtitles don’t work, but my city has similar case where some lines are called light rails and others trams while they use the same cars. The light rails are called that because the rails are always separate from roads (except when they cross), while trams rails are sometimes placed on roads so the trams interfere with other traffic. Light rails are more reliable and faster because they can’t get stuck in traffic while trams can.
Line 13 DOES have its own lanes and corridors. But isn’t being called light rail.
That’s what the video is discussing.
13 won’t just use the same cars (once HSL receives more of the new Artics), it was run and built in very similar fashion to line 15.
Weird, is there any explanation for it?
The video lands on “Because HSL says so”.
But, generally it’s likely because line 13 expands the inner city tram network, while line 15 is currently the first and only “light rail” outer city line. There is no network overlap (yet).
As it covers greater distances and is an attempt to offer tram service to suburbanites, there was an emphasis on speed and reliability in the public messaging. Plans do have that new light rail network eventually spreading into the existing tram network (same gauge).
13 is the latest line built after 15, and seemingly incorporates all the newer design philosophies (and rolling stock) of line 15. The only real difference is that it expands the inner city network, rather than the as of yet separate suburbian one.
I’m curious to see if the X54 cars that’ll run on 13 will be painted green-yellow like the current inner city cars, or if it’ll be the first we see of the turquoise-white “high-speed” LRV branding outside the suburbs.
The red tram car seen at the end is the Koff bar-car. It’s a bar in a tram.
