Helsinki backs HSL fare fine hike, Vantaa opposes

Helsinki Region Transport HSL, the regional public transport authority, has proposed raising the fare inspection fee for passengers travelling without a ticket from 100 euros to 130 euros, Yle reports.

The proposal is part of HSL’s preparations for its financial plan for the coming years. Helsinki supports the increase, while Vantaa says HSL should instead improve its inspection operations to reduce fare evasion.

The views of the cities will be considered by Helsinki’s Urban Environment Committee on Tuesday and Vantaa’s Urban Space Committee on Wednesday. The matter will reach political consideration in Espoo at the end of August.

HSL board chair and Helsinki city councillor Mirita Saxberg of the National Coalition Party supports the proposed increase.

“Travelling without a ticket is a problem for HSL’s finances and ticket revenue. In the interests of fairness, it should be understood that if I do not pay, someone else pays,” Saxberg said.

HSL’s board will make the final decision on the inspection fee during the autumn. The exact timing has not yet been decided.

Ticket prices are also set to rise

The inspection fee proposal is part of HSL’s operating and financial plan for 2027 to 2029. The plan also includes increases in ticket prices.

Saxberg said the key question in the plan and the related consultation is how the member municipalities want to balance ticket prices, a good level of service and municipal funding.

“These cannot be resolved as separate issues. If we want to keep price increases moderate while increasing public transport use, we also need to ensure that costs remain under control and municipal contributions are sustainable,” she said.

Last year, HSL’s board decided to raise ticket prices by an average of 3.1 percent this year. An increase of more than six percent had also been considered, but the board chose the smaller increase, with municipalities making up the difference through higher funding contributions.

According to Saxberg, the decision was based on a political agreement on predictable price development for 2026 to 2029 and on making a similar general increase each year.

As part of the financial plan currently under consultation, HSL’s member municipalities are also being asked separately for their views on ticket price increases.

The options are an increase of about 3.1 percent, described as the lower and riskier alternative, or an increase of about six percent, described as the less risky option.

A draft proposal prepared for Vantaa’s Urban Space Committee suggests that a suitable price increase could be between four and five percent.

Helsinki’s draft proposal says the increase could match the inflation assumption of 3.1 percent, but that increases should be focused on ticket types other than tickets for the AB zones.