In a statement, Länsimetro said construction works and testing of station systems will be completed by October, when a more detailed schedule for the opening of the line will be announced. Trial operation with passengers will begin no later than January 2017, and Helsinki Regional Transport (HSL) will make a final decision on the launch date for public operations following the completion of the certification process.
The €1bn first phase of West Metro has eight stations, six of which are located in the city of Espoo, and is expected to bring an extra 100,000 passengers a day onto the metro network. Construction is also underway on the 7km five-station second phase from Matinkylä to Kivenlahti, which is due to be completed in 2020.
