Commuters face significant delays at Helsinki Central Station's main metro entrance. Renovation work has blocked most escalators, leaving only a narrow staircase pathway.
The escalator replacement project began two weeks ago and will continue until mid-December. Workers are replacing 40-year-old escalators that can no longer be repaired due to unavailable spare parts.
During morning and evening rush hours, long queues form at the remaining stone stairs and elevator. The construction area occupies substantial space while pedestrians are confined to a tight corridor.
Antti Nousiainen from Helsinki Region Transport said the work was carefully planned for this key pedestrian hub. "We will guide people to use other nearby metro entrances with signs," he stated in an interview.
Workers complete the escalator removal and installation overnight between 1-5 AM when metro service stops. This minimizes disruption to commuters.
Officials acknowledge they might need to completely close the main entrance temporarily for safety reasons. They haven't determined when this could happen but will announce any closure separately.
The old Valmet-made escalators caused problems for years with constant breakdowns. Transport authorities decided to replace them earlier than planned because replacement parts became unavailable.
This renovation highlights Helsinki's infrastructure challenges as the city's aging public transport systems require updating. The crowded conditions demonstrate how essential these escalators are for daily commuter flow.