Helsinki West Metro interlocking contract awarded

HELSINKI City Transport (HKL) and Länsimetro, the public company overseeing the construction of the 21km western extension of the Helsinki metro, have awarded Mipro, Finland, a .€19.7m contract to supply electronic interlockings, operational control systems, and passenger information systems for the initial 14km phase of West Metro from Mellunmäki to Matinkylä in Espoo.
The contract includes options to supply equipment for the existing line from Ruoholahti to Vuosaari and Mellunmäki as well as the second 7km phase of West Metro from Mellunmäki to Kivenlahti.
The Ruoholahti – Matinkylä extension is due to open in August 2016 and is forecast to increase ridership on the east-west metro line to 100,000 passengers per day. The remainder of the line to Kivenlahti is scheduled for commissioning in 2020.