Helsinki Central Station

Helsinki
Helsingfors
Helsinki; Helsingfors
VR long-distance train and HSL commuter rail interchange station
General information
Location	Kaivokatu 1; Helsinki; Finland
Coordinates	60°10′19″N 24°56′29″E / 60.17194°N 24.94139°E
Owned by	Finnish Transport Agency
Operated by	VR
Managed by	VR
Line(s)	Helsinki–Riihimäki railway; Helsinki–Turku railway
Distance	0 km
Platforms	19
Tracks	19
Train operators	VR
Bus stands	13 departure, 2 arrival
Connections	M1 M2 Metro station; Helsinki tram lines; from Rautatieasema 3 5 6 7 9 ; from Lasipalatsi 1 2 4 10 ; ; Helsinki Buses
Construction
Structure type	Ground station
Platform levels	1
Other information
Station code	HKI
IATA code	HEC
Fare zone	A
History
Opened	1862 (originally); 1919 (current building)
Rebuilt	1909
Electrified	Yes
Passengers
2019	37,005,824 (Helsinki commuter)
Services
Former services
Location
	Helsinki Central The location of the station in Helsinki.

Helsinki Central Station (Finnish: Helsingin päärautatieasema, Swedish: Helsingfors centralstation) (HEC) is the main station for commuter rail and long-distance trains departing from Helsinki, Finland. The station is used by approximately 400,000 people per day, of whom about 200,000 are passengers.^{[clarification needed]}^[2] It serves as the terminus for all trains in the Helsinki commuter rail network, as well as for all Helsinki-bound long-distance trains in Finland. The Rautatientori (Central Railway Station) metro station is located in the same building.

The railway tracks in Helsinki were built in the 1860s. The station building, clad in granite, was designed by Eliel Saarinen and inaugurated in 1919. The building is known for its clock tower and the Lyhdynkantajat ("The Lantern Bearers") statues by Emil Wikström.^[3] Helsinki Central was chosen as one of the world's most beautiful railway stations by BBC in 2013.^[4] The Helsinki Central Station has become the symbol of the entire railway network in Finland. For example the VR Group uses the image of the station and the statues next to its main entrance in its advertising.^[5]^: 356

^ "Matkustajalaskenta - liikennepaikkojen matkustajamäärät - (summa)". tietopyynto.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 20 August 2022.
^ "Rautatieasema". Visit Helsinki : Helsingin kaupungin virallinen matkailusivusto (in Finnish). 8 November 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
^ Hissibongarin Helsinki-opas Archived 2014-01-12 at the Wayback Machine, Kone. Accessed on 6 January 2014.
^ Jonathan Glancey (3 December 2013). "Ten of the world's most beautiful railway stations". BBC. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
^ Järvenpää, Eeva: Vanhinta Helsinkiä: kertomuksia Kluuvin ja Kruununhaan kortteleista. Helsinki: Helsingin Sanomat, 2007. ISBN 978-952-5557-15-2.

[1] "Matkustajalaskenta - liikennepaikkojen matkustajamäärät - (summa)". tietopyynto.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 20 August 2022.

[2] "Rautatieasema". Visit Helsinki : Helsingin kaupungin virallinen matkailusivusto (in Finnish). 8 November 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2017.

[3] Hissibongarin Helsinki-opas Archived 2014-01-12 at the Wayback Machine, Kone. Accessed on 6 January 2014.

[4] Jonathan Glancey (3 December 2013). "Ten of the world's most beautiful railway stations". BBC. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

[järvenpää-5] Järvenpää, Eeva: Vanhinta Helsinkiä: kertomuksia Kluuvin ja Kruununhaan kortteleista. Helsinki: Helsingin Sanomat, 2007. ISBN 978-952-5557-15-2.

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