Editing Helsinki (section)

==Transport==
===Roads===
[[File:Helsinki region roads.jpg|thumb|right|Helsinki region roads]]
The backbone of Helsinki's motorway network consists of three [[semicircle|semicircular]] [[ring road|beltways]], [[Ring I]], [[Ring II]], and [[Ring III]], which connect expressways heading to other parts of Finland, and the western and eastern arteries of ''[[Länsiväylä]]'' and ''[[Itäväylä]]'' respectively. While variants of a ''Keskustatunneli'' tunnel under the city centre have been repeatedly proposed, {{as of|2017|lc=y}} the plan remains on the drawing board.

Many important [[Highways in Finland|Finnish highways]] leave Helsinki for various parts of Finland; most of them in the form of [[motorway]]s, but a few of these exceptions include ''[[Vihdintie]]''. The most significant highways are:
* [[Finnish national road 1]]/[[European route E18|E18]] (to [[Lohja]], [[Salo, Finland|Salo]] and [[Turku]])
* [[Finnish national road 3]]/[[European route E12|E12]] (to [[Hämeenlinna]], [[Tampere]] and [[Vaasa]])
* [[Finnish national road 4]]/[[European route E75|E75]] (to [[Lahti]], [[Jyväskylä]], [[Oulu]] and [[Rovaniemi]])
* [[Finnish national road 7]]/[[European route E18|E18]] (to [[Porvoo]] and [[Kotka]]).

Helsinki has some 390 cars per 1000 inhabitants.<ref>[http://www.hel2.fi/tietoa/helbro1.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211115004/http://www.hel2.fi/tietoa/helbro1.pdf|date=11 December 2011}}</ref> This is less than in cities of similar population and construction density, such as Brussels' 483 per 1000, Stockholm's 401, and Oslo's 413.<ref>{{cite web |title=Runge |url=http://www.eaue.de/Promode/Runge.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625143315/http://www.eaue.de/Promode/Runge.pdf |archive-date=25 June 2008 |access-date=17 February 2014 |publisher=European Academy of the Urban Environment}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tietokeskus: suunnatframe |url=http://www.hel.fi/hel2/tietokeskus/suunnat/ss405/suunnatframe2.html |access-date=8 July 2009 |publisher=Hel2.fi}}</ref>

===Intercity rail===
[[File:Helsinki Railway Station 20050604.jpg|thumb|[[Helsinki Central railway station|Central railway station]], inaugurated 1919]]
[[Helsinki Central Railway Station]] is the main terminus of the rail network in Finland. Two rail corridors lead out of Helsinki, the Main Line to the north (to [[Tampere]], [[Oulu]], [[Rovaniemi]]), and the Coastal Line to the west (to [[Turku]]). The [[Finnish Main Line|Main Line]] (''päärata''), which is the first railway line in Finland, was officially opened on 17 March 1862, between cities of Helsinki and [[Hämeenlinna]].<ref>Neil Kent: ''Helsinki: A Cultural History'', p. 18. Interlink Books, 2014. {{ISBN|978-1-56656-544-8}}.</ref> The railway connection to the east branches from the Main Line outside of Helsinki at Kerava, and leads via [[Lahti]] to eastern parts of Finland.

A majority of intercity passenger services in Finland originate or terminate at the Helsinki Central Railway Station. All major cities in Finland are connected to Helsinki by rail service, with departures several times a day. The most frequent service is to Tampere, with more than 25 intercity departures per day {{as of|2017|lc=yes}}.

Until 2022 there also was an international services from Helsinki to Saint Petersburg and Moscow. The Saint Petersburg to Helsinki route was operated by [[Allegro (train)|Allegro high-speed trains]].

A [[Helsinki to Tallinn Tunnel]] has been proposed<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 January 2016 |title=Helsinki-Tallinn tunnel proposals look to bring cities closer than ever |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/06/helsinki-tallinn-tunnel-proposals-rail-link-finland-estonia}}</ref> and agreed upon by representatives of the cities.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Feargus O'Sullivan |date=7 January 2016 |title=Helsinki and Tallinn Agree to Build the World's Longest Underwater Rail Tunnel |work=CityLab |url=http://www.citylab.com/commute/2016/01/helsinki-tallinn-rail-tunnel-baltic/423030/}}</ref> The rail tunnel would connect Helsinki to the [[Estonia]]n capital [[Tallinn]], further linking Helsinki to the rest of continental Europe by [[Rail Baltica]].

===Aviation===
Air traffic is handled primarily from [[Helsinki Airport]], located approximately {{convert|17|km|mi|0}} north of Helsinki's downtown area, in the neighbouring city of [[Vantaa]]. Helsinki's own airport, [[Helsinki-Malmi Airport]], is mainly used for general and private aviation. Charter flights are available from [[Hernesaari Heliport]].

===Sea transport===
{{Main|Port of Helsinki}}
[[File:Helsinki (23883925315).jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|The [[South Harbour, Helsinki|South Harbour]]]]
Like many other cities, Helsinki was deliberately founded at a location on the sea in order to take advantage of shipping. The freezing of the sea imposed limitations on sea traffic up to the end of the 19th century. But for the last hundred years, the routes leading to Helsinki have been kept open even in winter with the aid of [[icebreaker]]s, many of them built in the Helsinki Hietalahti shipyard. The arrival and departure of ships has also been a part of everyday life in Helsinki. Regular route traffic from Helsinki to Stockholm, Tallinn, and Saint Petersburg began as far back as 1837. Over 300 cruise ships and 360,000 cruise passengers visit Helsinki annually. There are international cruise ship docks in [[South Harbour, Helsinki|South Harbour]], [[Katajanokka]], [[West Harbour, Helsinki|West Harbour]], and [[Hernesaari]]. In terms of combined liner and cruise passengers, the [[Port of Helsinki]] overtook the [[Port of Dover]] in 2017 to become the [[List of busiest cruise ports by passengers|busiest passenger port in the world]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/pdfscache/6652.pdf|title=Maritime ports freight and passenger statistics|publisher=[[Eurostat]]|access-date=18 June 2020}}</ref>

Ferry connections to Tallinn, [[Mariehamn]], and Stockholm are serviced by various companies; very popular [[MS J. L. Runeberg|MS ''J. L. Runeberg'']] ferry connection to Finland's second oldest city, [[medieval]] old town of [[Porvoo]], is also available for tourists.<ref>[https://www.msjlruneberg.fi/cruises/helsinki-porvoo/ Helsinki–Porvoo cruise - MS ''J. L. Runeberg'']</ref> [[Finnlines]] passenger-freight ferries to [[Gdynia]], Poland; [[Travemünde]], Germany; and [[Rostock]], Germany are also available. [[St. Peter Line]] offers passenger ferry service to Saint Petersburg several times a week.

===Urban transport===
{{Main|Public transport in Helsinki}}
{{See also|Trams in Helsinki|Helsinki Metro|Helsinki City Bikes}}
[[File:Munkkisaari tram stop at Telakkakatu in Eira, Helsinki, Finland, 2021 April.jpg|thumb|right|[[Trams in Helsinki|Helsinki tram network]] is one of the most dense in Europe.]]
In the Helsinki metropolitan area, [[public transport]]ation is managed by the [[Helsinki Regional Transport Authority]], the metropolitan area transportation authority. The diverse [[Public transport in Helsinki|public transport system]] consists of [[Helsinki tram|trams]], [[VR commuter rail|commuter rail]], the [[Helsinki Metro|metro]], [[bus]] lines, two [[ferry]] lines and a [[Helsinki City Bikes|public bike system]].

[[Trams in Helsinki|Helsinki's tram system]] dates back to 1891 when the first [[horse-drawn]] trams were introduced; the system was electrified in 1900.<ref>{{cite book| title= Otavan suuri ensyklopedia, 7. osa (Optiikka–Revontulet) | page= 5563 | chapter= Raitioliikenne | publisher= Otava | year= 1973 | isbn= 951-1-02232-6 | language= fi}}</ref> {{As of|2024|01}}, the system consists of 14 routes covering the inner part of the city center and [[Helsinki light rail line 15|one]] newer [[light rail]] style line connecting [[Keilaniemi]] in Espoo with [[Itäkeskus]] in eastern Helsinki. The length of the network is [[Planned tram projects in Helsinki|planned to more than double]] during the 2020s and 2030s compared to 2021, with major projects including [[Vantaa light rail]], the [[Crown Bridges]] link to the island of [[Laajasalo]] and the [[West Helsinki light rail]] project connecting [[Kannelmäki]] to the city center.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salomaa |first=Marja |date=2021-05-29 |title=Helsingin ratikkavallankumous nostaa asuntojen hintoja lukuisilla alueilla, asuntosijoittaja vinkkaa sijoituskohteesta – "Hymyilyttää" |url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000007985482.html |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref> Construction work on the new tram as the number line 13 (Nihti–Kalasatama–Vallilanlaakso–Pasila) has begun in May 2020, and the line is scheduled for completion in 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/paikalliset/2718947|title=Ratikka kulkee Nihdistä Pasilaan vuonna 2024|work=Helsingin Uutiset|date=25 August 2020| access-date = 30 December 2020 | language = fi}}</ref>

The [[Helsinki commuter rail|commuter rail system]] includes purpose-built double track for local services in two rail corridors along intercity railways, and the [[Ring Rail Line]], an urban double-track railway with a station at the [[Helsinki Airport]] in Vantaa. Electric operation of commuter trains was first begun in 1969, and the system has been gradually expanded since. 15 different services are operated {{as of|2017|lc=yes}}, some extending outside of the Helsinki region. The frequent services run at a 10-minute headway in peak traffic.