Fact #50
Tukee tapahtumia
Raitiotie kuljettaa paljon matkustajia kerralla, mikä on erityisen hyödyllistä suurten yleisötapahtumien yhteydessä ennen ja jälkeen tapahtuman.
Alternative truths circulate about the Turku tramway – we share facts. Sourced from the @sataratikkafaktaa account, maintained by volunteers, not by the city, the tramway alliance, or developers.
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Fact #49
Ulkopuolisia arvioita
Turun raitiotiehankkeen suunnittelussa ei ole nojattu vain kaupungin omaan arvioon, vaan päätöksenteon tueksi on laadittu useita erillisiä selvityksiä.
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Fact #48
Sujuvasti junaan
Raitiotie parantaa matkaketjua Kupittaan asemalle, joka on monelle Helsinkiin pendelöivälle päivittäin tärkeä. Asema palvelee myös korkeakouluja, sairaala-aluetta ja Kupittaan työpaikka-aluetta.
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Fact #47
Naapurikunnat
Naapurikunnat eivät lähteneet mukaan Turun raitiotien ensimmäiseen vaiheeseen, mutta kiinnostusta raitiotiehen on silti seudullisesti.
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Fact #46
Vähemmän busseja torilla
Raitiovaunun kapasiteetti vastaa noin kolmea telibussia. Suuremmilla ajoneuvoilla sama määrä matkustajia voidaan kuljettaa pienemmällä ajoneuvomäärällä.
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Fact #45
Tavoiteverkko olemassa
Mahdollinen päätös koskee ensimmäistä linjaa sataman, keskustan ja Varissuon välillä. Se toimii itsenäisesti eikä edellytä jatkorakentamista.
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Fact #44
Talvikunnossapito
Suomessa on pitkä kokemus raitiotieoperoinnista talviolosuhteissa. Kuvissa on Raide-Jokeri Oulunkylässä ja Tampereen raitiotietä talvella.
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Fact #43
Kaupunkikuva huomioidaan
Raitiotie on osa kaupunkitilaa, ei siitä erillinen elementti.
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Fact #42
Päätösten aikajana
Turun raitiotiehanketta on valmisteltu vaiheittain päätösten mukaisesti.
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Fact #41
Kuljettajien työllisyys
Suurin osa Fölin joukkoliikenteestä hoidetaan jatkossakin busseilla, vaikka kuormitetuin runkolinja siirtyy raiteille. Raitiotie korvaa bussiliikennettä vain vilkkaimmalla osuudella, ja muilla reiteillä bussit jatkavat raitiotietä täydentäen.
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Fact #40
Costs over time
The investment is implemented in phases over several years. Financing and borrowing are also spread over time.
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Fact #39
Investment in walking
Around €40 million is invested in pedestrian areas and cycling. The street environment becomes more walkable and safer.
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Fact #38
Land value benefits the city
The city owns a significant share of land along the route. The tram increases demand, and rising land value returns to the city over time.
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Fact #37
One system
The tram will be an integrated part of Föli. The same tickets are valid on trams and buses and the public transport network operates as one seamless system.
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Fact #36
Lifecycle matters
Experiences with high-capacity bus systems are mixed. Costs should be assessed over the full lifecycle, not just the purchase price.
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Fact #35
More trees along the route
The preliminary plans include 726 new trees along the route. 351 will be removed, so the total number increases.
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Fact #34
State funding
The state contributes approximately €127 million after a conditional decision. The city’s share is not the full €465 million, but about €338 million.
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Fact #33
Port connections
Thousands of passengers arrive at the port at a time. The tram provides a direct link to the city centre and reduces pressure on the street network.
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Fact #32
Part of the city
The tram runs in the street and connects areas. It does not create a barrier between urban communities like a railway corridor, but instead supports a compact and functional urban structure.
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Fact #31
More passengers
Tramways increase public transport use. In Lund, passenger numbers more than doubled on the same route, and in Tampere over 20.5 million trips were made in 2025. Rail attracts new users as well.
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Fact #30
Growth follows the tram corridor
Turku has around 210,000 residents, and growth has already concentrated along the planned tram corridor.
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Fact #29
Cities decide before state funding
The city decides first, after which the state makes a separate funding decision. This is part of the current MAL agreement model.
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Fact #28
Rail is perceived as less stressful
Studies show rail transport is seen as more reliable, clearer and less stressful than bus services.
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Fact #27
Construction emissions reduced
Construction emissions have been reduced by about 35% compared to earlier estimates through optimized materials and design.
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Fact #26
Noise and vibration controlled
The tramway is designed with structures that reduce vibration and ground-borne noise. These effects are included in project costs.
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Fact #25
Plenty of seating
Trams offer more seating and higher capacity than buses. In Tampere, a single tram has over 100 seats.
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Fact #24
Taito campus along the route
The new campus in Kupittaa will be located directly along the tram line, bringing thousands of daily users.
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Fact #23
Planned service start in 2033
Tram operations are planned to begin in 2033, based on phased implementation.
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Fact #22
Long-distance rail is not a substitute
Rail does not serve the same destinations or everyday trips. The distance from Varissuo to a potential Vaala station is up to 1.5 km, while tram stops are closer. Even at best, train frequencies would be clearly lower than the planned 7.5 minutes. ≠
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Fact #21
Extensive studies completed
The tramway has been planned for decades and is based on extensive studies. The material has been updated based on councillors’ additional questions, covering for example economy, environment and transport.
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Fact #20
20 stop pairs
The first line is planned to have 20 stop pairs. Stops are placed in central locations and support smooth travel.
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Fact #19
Strong user base
Over 28 million trips are made by bus in the Föli region annually. This provides a strong foundation for developing public transport.
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Fact #18
Also to nearby nature
The tram does not only go to the city centre, it can also take you to nearby nature. At the Varissuo end, stops are located close to large forest areas. The tram does not threaten valuable natural areas.
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Fact #17
New users
The tram also attracts new users to public transport. Rail-based transport is often seen as more attractive than buses and also attracts car users.
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Fact #16
More equal mobility
The tram supports more equal mobility and makes everyday travel easier for many. Public transport is on average more important for women, who use it more than men.
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Fact #15
Green track in the city
About 29% of the line will be built as green track, with rails placed in grass or other vegetation. This is common in many European tram cities.
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Fact #14
Higher property revenue
Up to 500,000 square metres of additional development is expected along the tram corridor compared to bus alternatives. This increases the city’s property-related revenue in the long term.
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Fact #13
Investments are needed anyway
Streets and utilities need to be renewed regardless. Without the tram, basic renovations and public transport improvements along the route would cost around €65 million.
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Fact #12
Local jobs
The tram project creates jobs in planning, construction and supply chains. The investment also supports local businesses and employment.
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Fact #11
Accessible stops
Stops are designed to be accessible. Boarding happens directly from the platform without steps, and the vehicles have low floors and wide doors. This makes travelling easier with strollers, wheelchairs and walkers.
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Fact #10
Kupittaa sports area
Many sports facilities in Kupittaa Park are located close to a tram stop. The area already has several major venues and more sports facilities are being planned.
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Fact #9
Living without a car becomes easier
Good public transport makes everyday travel easier without a car. You may still have a car, but you don’t always need to use it for daily trips.
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Fact #8
Easy transfers
Dedicated lanes and traffic signal priority help trams run smoothly and stay on schedule. A reliable main line makes it easier to transfer between trams and buses.
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Fact #7
Nature has been studied
Extensive environmental studies have been carried out during planning. These studies have mapped vegetation, animal species and valuable natural areas along the route.
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Fact #6
Trams are purchased separately
The first phase is planned to use 14 trams. The estimated cost of the vehicles is about 65–75 million euros.
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Fact #5
The depot is part of the project
The tram depot is planned in Iso-Heikkilä. This is where the trams are stored, cleaned and maintained, and it is included in the project’s cost estimate.
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Fact #4
12 kilometres of tramway
The first tram line from the Port to Varissuo via the city centre and Kupittaa will be about 12 kilometres long. The line will have two tracks and use the European standard gauge of 1435 mm.
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Fact #3
Investment follows growth
Investors tend to focus on cities where they see strong growth and development potential. Population growth, urban development and a reliable transport system all make a city more attractive for investment.
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Fact #2
Clay soil has been taken into account
Turku is built on soft clay soil, and this has been considered in the planning. Track structures are designed based on soil studies, using solutions such as stabilisation and piling.
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Fact #1
Service frequency
The planned service frequency on the line Port–City Centre–Kupittaa–Varissuo is 7.5 minutes. Frequent service reduces waiting time at stops and makes transfers easier. The tram mostly runs on its own lanes, which helps keep the service reliable.
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Fact #0
Caenin raitiotie
Caenin raitiotie