Tulli tram stop in Tampere to be lengthened from 17 August ahead of 47‑metre trams

Tampereen Raitiotie said in a press release on ePressi that work to extend the Tulli tram stop in central Tampere will begin in week 34 (17–21 August) and is scheduled to finish by 11 September.

The south-side platform next to the Attila property will be lengthened westward toward the city centre. Trams will continue to call at Tulli throughout the works. All doors will remain in use. From the west the stop will be reachable via both stairs and an accessible ramp; from the east access will continue via the existing accessible ramp. During the works the southern edge of the platform will also serve as the Itsenäisyydenkatu sidewalk.

Extension work is also under way at Koskipuisto and is progressing as planned, with that site due to be completed in August. Work at Hervantakeskus will start later in August. The contractor for the stop extensions is Tampereen Puutarha-Center Oy, with Infrabay Oy acting as contract supervisor.

The stop upgrades are linked to the tram fleet renewal. Tampere is introducing 47‑metre trams alongside the current 37‑metre vehicles to cope with faster-than-expected passenger growth. "Longer trams will meet rising demand," the operator said. Test runs for the first 47‑metre tram began on the network in June, and the goal is to have 19 extended and 16 current-length vehicles in service when the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa line's first section opens in summer 2028.

At present the tram network uses 33 stop pairs; all but three stops have already been adapted for the 47‑metre vehicles. The Tulli extension is one of the final modifications needed to ensure the new, longer trams can operate across the city without restricting boarding or access. The project follows plans announced in March to extend several stops to fit the 47‑metre trams.

Meanwhile, Tamperelainen reports that Ilves and Tammela Stadium have been selected for the international CUES project coordinated by Erasmus University Rotterdam. The initiative aims to promote healthier and more sustainable food choices through football communities, running until the end of 2027.

According to Tamperelainen, Ilves will trial matchday offerings such as berries and market-style snacks, and is also exploring ways the community can make use of local farm products. The project includes off-pitch collaboration between clubs, with experiments being carried out together with Erasmus University Rotterdam and ICLEI Europe.

Tamperelainen adds that Ilves is, this season, the only home-match club at Tammela after TamU and TPV moved their home games to Kauppi. The outlet also notes that Ilves has previously worked on matchday food initiatives, including launching an Ilves-branded grill sausage for the club’s 95th anniversary.

Ilves director Olli Vakkala and ICLEI Europe’s Vivien Franck are quoted by Tamperelainen on the rationale for the international cooperation – highlighting the value of football clubs reaching large audiences to help normalise healthier and more sustainable food options.