Track work halts trains through Hämeenlinna for more than a day

Train services through Hämeenlinna will stop for more than a day from Tuesday evening, with buses replacing trains between Riihimäki and Hämeenlinna, Yle reports. The interruption is needed while Väylävirasto replaces three sets of points at the Hämeenlinna railway yard.

Work begins at 6.40 on Tuesday. Trains will initially use just one track between Harviala and Hämeenlinna until 20.10. After that, no trains will run through Hämeenlinna until 5.40 on Thursday, when services are expected to return to normal.

The points, which direct trains from one track to another, are in poor condition and have reached the end of their service life, project manager Maija Lavapuro of Väylävirasto said. Their replacement is intended to keep rail traffic safe and running smoothly.

Work will continue around the clock from Tuesday. Lavapuro said the work cannot really be stopped once it begins, and working overnight will shorten the disruption. The work is also expected to cause noise nearby, with excavators, lorries and rail-work machinery operating in the yard.

Additional work related to the points replacement is scheduled for one night next week. Information about replacement buses and timetables is available through VR’s journey planner on its website and mobile app.

Separately, track work on the Helsinki–Riihimäki rail project is affecting services between Kerava and Riihimäki. R trains may be delayed by five to 15 minutes.