Tunnel Closure Forces Line 29 Reroute; New School Line Proposed

According to ePressi, Nysse, Tampere’s regional public transport operator, has proposed a series of timetable and route changes for next winter after the personnel yard construction will close the Itsenäisyydenkatu tunnel for several years. The measures affect line 29 across western Tampere and introduce a new school service for Kaukajärvi pupils.

Nysse says the detour for line 29 is significantly longer than the normal route, and the number of buses currently allocated to the line will not be enough during winter based on recorded travel times. The city’s approved budget does not cover the additional operating costs, so planners propose thinning service on line 29 in West Tampere during peak hours and running the route as two distinct services: 29A between Lamminpää and Ojala every 30 minutes throughout the day, and 29B between Pyynikintori and Ojala every 30 minutes during weekday peak periods.

Passenger counts show the heaviest demand between Pappilan and Kissanmaa, and officials warn that reducing frequency on that stretch would risk overcrowding. Planners argue that West Tampere has more alternative public transport options, which allows capacity to be reallocated to cover the longer detour without immediately adding vehicles.

Separately, Tampere city transport planners say Kaukajärvi’s old school building will be demolished and grades 7–9 will move to temporary premises in Hervanta’s Konetalo while new construction takes place. The city will not provide separate school shuttles to Hervanta; instead, pupils are expected to use Nysse services. Current lines 17 and 8B are insufficient to carry nearly 450 upper‑secondary pupils during peak times.

To address that shortfall, Nysse proposes a new weekday school line, numbered 109, running from Haihara via Juvankatu, Annala and Kaipanen through Rusko and Hermia to the Hervanta terminal. The service would operate only on school days, be open to all passengers, and use normal Nysse ticketing. The package of changes has been submitted to the public transport board for consideration, and will appear on the board’s agenda and minutes.