Funicular railway in Kakolanmäki, Turku, set to resume operations next week after repairs

The funicular railway in Kakolanmäki, Turku, is set to resume operations next week after being out of service since September 20. The prolonged shutdown was due to a lack of necessary spare parts for repairs. The Turku traffic center has announced that the parts have finally arrived and maintenance has begun.

The spare parts shortage first became apparent last spring, leading the city of Turku to request replacement parts from the manufacturer. However, delays in delivery forced the city to seek parts from alternative suppliers. Antti Aalto, a project manager for the city, explained that the extended delivery time necessitated the search for other options.

Maintenance will involve replacing more than a dozen counterweight wheels. The funicular’s five-year warranty expired in May, meaning that any future maintenance and repairs will be funded by the city. Since the warranty’s expiration, Kone Oy has taken over the maintenance responsibilities.

Aalto mentioned in May that the city had allocated budget funds for the funicular’s costs and repairs. Turku is still in negotiations with the Italian manufacturer, Leitner, regarding warranty repairs on certain parts. The city believes that the funicular’s wear-and-tear components should be more durable than they currently are.

Throughout 2023, the Kakola funicular has been out of service for approximately a month due to various technical issues. Notably, the funicular had faced persistent technical problems since its opening, a situation that was highlighted when a journalist got the funicular stuck in 2019, prompting further scrutiny of its reliability.