All posts tagged: Helsinki

Historical Map: Concept for Helsinki Metro Diagram, c. 1974

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Historical Maps

Here’s something interesting – an early concept diagram for the Helsinki Metro that shows two lines instead of the eventual one (plus branch). It appears in the 1974 edition of Graphis Diagrams, a collection of the best informational design from around the world at the time (generally within the last year).  Stylistically, it’s almost identical to the diagram that was actually used when the Metro finally opened in 1982… it just has a whole extra […]

Submission – Unofficial Map of Helsinki Tram Network by Elmo Allén

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Unofficial Maps

Submitted by Mikko.  This is a really lovely little diagram, which treads the fine line between simplifying the network and depicting Helsinki’s complex geography very deftly. Near-future extensions (up to 2023) are depicted with hollow route lines and estimated opening dates for stations and new track. One thing it does lack is a legend – while most of the map is pretty self-explanatory, an indication that Line 5 and the short 6T extension only run […]

Submission – Helsinki Metro Map, 1982 versus Current Map

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Historical Maps, Official Maps

Submitted by sailsandrails, who says: I’ve been meaning to ask you this for a while: what is your opinion of the original styling of Helsinki’s Metro map? (Photo taken from this site, unfortunately I couldn’t find a better one). After several revisions, the current version looks like this, which is more international in style. Personally, I think the original is surprisingly readable while being pleasantly unique in style, but I’d love to hear your thoughts. […]

Submission – Official Map: Commuter Rail Services of Helsinki, Finland

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Official Maps

Submitted by beesweet624, who says: I visited Helsinki for a long weekend and it was really enjoyable. The public transportation was very reliable, on time, and went everywhere I needed to go. They have a simple metro system, a well-used tram system in the central part of the city, and numerous buses. However, I had a real problem with its commuter train map. Helsinki’s commuter train map is really confusing. Essentially the stops are arranged […]

Submission – Future Map: Rapid Transit in Helsinki, 2020

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Future Maps, Official Maps

Submitted by Mikko, who says: Helsinki Regional Transport Authority’s (HSL) draft map of rapid transit and trunk bus lines, published for comments on 16 February 2015. There are multiple errors and readability problems with this version, e.g. the commuter train designation letters are too small to be read, some Swedish-language names are wrong etc. Some notes: names of stations and stops are in Finnish and Swedish (officially bilingual country) the so-called Ring Rail Line (Kehärata) […]

Submission – A Heart-shaped Map for Helsinki’s New Airport Rail Loop

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Official Maps

Submitted by Augustin, who says: A new ring rail line is soon to be opened in Helsinki, thus providing a convenient way to reach the airport from city centre (only bus services are available as of now). HSL, the local transportation authority, advertises this huge change with a lovely heart shaped map of the ring, conveniently showing all the stops the trains will potentially call at, although the actual stopping pattern on the line has […]

Official Map: Commuter Rail Services of Helsinki, Finland

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Official Maps, Visualizations

Here’s a different type of transit map altogether… if one could really call it a “map” at all. Showing commuter rail services out of Finland’s capital, Helsinki, this matrix instead focuses on showing stopping patterns on the four colour-coded commuter lines. Each pattern is clearly denoted with a letter that corresponds to a train – not unlike the local/express services on the New York subway – making finding the correct train to catch easy and […]