Santalahden Scenic Elevator to Close Nights Over Vandalism

"Graffiti appeared immediately after it opened," Tampere's Santalahden scenic elevator will be closed at night this spring and summer due to ongoing vandalism, Aamulehti reports.

The city says that restoring and cleaning the battered elevator continuously is no longer feasible because the costs are too high, and the plan is to lock the doors and keep it shut at night in line with tram traffic. Milko Tietäväinen, Tampere’s construction chief, notes that the elevator has faced ongoing vandalism since it opened in November 2024, with parts damaged and tiles smashed after it began operation.

Local resident Jani Hyvärinen, who uses the elevator regularly, suggests adding a Nysse card reader and a camera at the doors to enable controlled access while keeping journeys free. The city’s response is cautiously open to such ideas, and Hyvärinen says the concept could work if it helps curb tampering. Hyvärinen also points out that guarding or constant surveillance alone would not fully solve the issue, but a controlled system might help balance safety with access.