HELSINKI TRAM ROLLING STOCK

The project will finance the acquisition of 40 new tramway rolling stock units by the City of Helsinki, under the Helsinki Urban Transportation II framework loan.

The project is part of the investment plan of Helsinki City Transport (HKL), approved by the City of Helsinki, aiming to enhance the public transport system and move towards a more environmentally and financially sustainable transport system in the city. The project will improve the quality of public transport service in terms of speed, comfort and reliability and increase the attractiveness of public transport in the urban area. This will help to reduce reliance on private cars and the negative impact of transport on the environment, thereby contributing to tackling climate change.

Finland, as an EU Member State, is required to follow the relevant EU legislation in relation to the environmental impact of projects (namely the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Habitat/Natura 2000 Directives). The scheme to be financed is included in the Helsinki Region Transport System Plan (HLJ 2015), approved in March 2015, and the Helsinki City Master Plan. Both have gone through a strategic environmental assessment process, in compliance with SEA Directive 2001/42/EC. The acquisition of rolling stock units falls outside the scope of the EIA Directive.

The promoter is subject to and follows the applicable EU procurement legislation (Directive 2004/17/EC or Directive 2014/25/EU as well as Directives 89/665/EEC and 92/13/EEC), as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the EU. For this component, the promoter has awarded the contract for the acquisition of the tram cars following publication in the Official Journal of the EU (No 2011/S 146-242270) in line with the applicable directive (Directive 2004/17/EC).