Länsimetro
| Länsimetro | |
|---|---|
Logo | |
Route map.
Original stations of the Helsinki Metro are shown as filled squares, Länsimetro stations as hollow squares. | |
| Overview | |
| Owner | Länsimetro Oy |
| Locale | Helsinki, Espoo |
| Transit type | Rapid Transit |
| Number of stations | 13 |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | 18 November 2017 (Phase 1) 3 December 2022 (Phase 2) |
| Operator(s) | Helsinki Regional Transport Authority Helsinki City Transport |
| Character | Underground |
| Technical | |
| System length | 21 km (13 mi) Ruoholahti-Matinkylä 14 km (8.7 mi) Matinkylä-Kivenlahti 7 km (4.3 mi) |
| No. of tracks | 2 |
| Track gauge | 1,522 mm (4 ft 11+29⁄32 in) |
| Electrification | Third Rail, 750 V DC |
Länsimetro (English: Western Metro, Swedish: Västmetron) is an extension to the Helsinki Metro system in Finland, which opened on 18 November 2017. Länsimetro extends the system's two lines, M1 and M2, from Central Helsinki to the neighbouring city of Espoo. The new stretch continues the lines from the existing Ruoholahti station via the island of Lauttasaari, the Aalto University Otaniemi campus and Tapiola, the terminus of line M2. Line M1 continues further west to Matinkylä. Unlike previous extensions to the Helsinki Metro system, Länsimetro runs entirely underground. The second phase opened on 3 December 2022 and continues the line further west to Kivenlahti, near the municipal border of Kirkkonummi.
Final approval for a 13.5-kilometre (8.4 mi) route was granted on 4 April 2007, and construction began in November 2009. In February 2014, rock blasting was completed, and the fitting out of the tunnels and construction of the stations was started. The opening of the extension was planned for August 2016, but was delayed until November 2017.