 | ||
The Helsinki City Rail Loop (Finnish: Pisararata, Swedish: Centrumslingan) is a planned new railway line in Helsinki, Southern Finland. It will be a double track balloon loop in the shape of a tear drop. Helsinki commuter rail currently terminating at Helsinki Central railway station would be diverted into tunnels under the city centre. New below-ground stations would be created in Töölö (west), Helsinki city centre (south) and Hakaniemi metro station (east), with a possible fourth station at Alppila (north) depending on how the connection to the main line is made in relation to the existing northern Pasila railway station. The new tracks will be 7 kilometres (4 mi) long.
The target is to free up capacity at Helsinki Central railway station to allow for expansion of long-distance trains; the existing capacity between Pasila and Helsinki due to be all used up with the opening of the Ring Rail Line in 2014. Detailed planning will take place during 2012–2015, and when completed by the 2020s is expected to cost €956 million. For the planning stages, €40 million was allocated.