Protest held in Helsinki’s Töölö against light rail plans
Wednesday 10th June 2026 on 21:01 in
Finland
Around 200 people demonstrated in Helsinki’s Taka-Töölö on Wednesday evening against traffic arrangements tied to the city’s western light rail project, Yle reports.
The protest, held at the intersection of Topeliuksenkatu and Linnakoskenkatu, targeted what organisers called the narrowest point of planned changes. To illustrate their concerns, demonstrators used three lorries to block Topeliuksenkatu.
Protesters said the city has failed to consult residents, with changes such as street openings and tree felling coming as a surprise. Organiser Tore Bäckström, a local resident, said the group would do everything possible to influence the decision.
“People don’t want the tram here. Brick-and-mortar shops fear they’ll go under,” Bäckström said.
Not all attendees opposed the project. Otso Brummer, another local, called it excellent urban development, arguing it would improve public transport across the city. He added that traffic, particularly through bus routes, should be reduced in Töölö, with car use shifted to Mannerheimintie to calm the area.
The western light rail project, now in its implementation phase, includes a fast tram connection from the city centre to Kannelmäki and a route via Topeliuksenkatu to Fredrikinkatu. Project manager Anton Silvo of the City of Helsinki said the scheme would reshape the entire public transport network in western Helsinki.
A draft plan for Topeliuksenkatu will be published after the summer, allowing residents to provide feedback. The final proposal is set to go before the city environment board for approval in early 2027, with construction on Topeliuksenkatu planned in phases between 2027 and 2029.
Work is already underway in several areas, including Vihdintie, the bridges crossing the coastal railway, and the Huopalahti and Turunväylä interchange in Munkkiniemi. In Töölö, preparations have begun on Hesperiankatu, Taivallahti, and the southern end of Merikannontie. Linnankoskenkatu is closed between Pasiuksenkatu and Topeliuksenkatu for preliminary street and utility work, while Runeberginkatu’s renovation is scheduled to start next autumn and finish next year.