Tampere extends tram stops for longer 47-meter trams
Tampere's tram operator has started bidding to extend three stops to fit 47-meter trams, with work potentially starting mid-April.
YLE reports that Tampereen Raitiotie Oy has started bidding to extend three tram stops in Tampere to fit 47-meter trams, with work potentially starting mid-April. The affected stops are Koskipuisto, Tulli and Hervantakeskus, and street-plan changes have been approved to enable the expansions.
The rail operator says the works will be carried out so they do not significantly disrupt tram travel; boarding will be possible during all stages, but access to the stops may be temporarily altered. The projects at Koskipuisto and Hervantakeskus may take up to two months, while Tulli is expected to take about a month. Tampere currently operates 28 trams at 37 meters, and the city plans to use longer vehicles on new southern and eastern links toward Pirkkala and Linnainmaa. The first stage of the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa line is due to run in summer 2028, with the target of 19 extended and 16 current-length trams in service.
Trams for Tampere are manufactured in Kajaani at Škoda Transtech’s Otanmäki plant, where each extension adds roughly 10 meters to a tram, boosting passenger capacity by about a quarter. The first 47-meter tram is slated for test rides this summer. The article also notes a video showing passengers discussing tram crowding in January 2025.
Catch the full story over at YLE
