First year of the Pirkkala-Linnainmaa tramway construction: close to a third of the work completed
The expansion of Tampere’s tram route towards Pirkkala and Linnainmaa began a year ago on December 11, 2024. During the busy construction year, work has progressed even ahead of schedule, with 30 percent of the work completed. Around 700 meters of double tracks have been built. Additionally, underground pipes and cables have been moved and replaced, and retaining walls, power supply stations as well as bridges have been constructed along the construction site. First street sections have already been completed. Expansion work has also been carried out at the tram depot.
Construction first began between Sori Square and Partola in Pirkkala, as well as between Kauppi Campus and Ruotula, with municipal engineering work. Underground pipes and cables have been moved from under the tramway while outdated municipal infrastructure has been renewed. Street construction has progressed from underground works to streel level construction.
“Underground infrastructure is located as deep as seven meters. We move and renew infrastructure along the entire tramway section, often amidst busy traffic. Construction has also required ground reinforcement, such as pile slabs and preloading embankments. Despite some challenging conditions, our work has progressed excellently, and several street sections are already completed,” says Sari Valjus, Project Manager of the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa alliance at Tampere Tram.
The first street sections were completed in Härmälä and Partola in September-October. At Hatanpää, traffic was moved to new surfaces at the end of November. First street areas in Kaupinlaakso were also completed during autumn.
Municipal engineering work in Hatanpää during the winter of 2025. Photo: Wille Nyyssönen
Preloading embankments have been constructed in Kaupinlaakso. Photo: Wille Nyyssönen
Street areas were completed in Partola in October. Photo: Pirkkala-Linnainmaa Alliance
Around 700 meters of installed tracks
The first rails of the Pirkkala-Linnainmaa tramway were installed in early September at the intersection of Hatanpään valtatie and Tampereen valtatie. Track construction began in the busy intersection to ensure smooth work progress in the area. During autumn, track installations have also taken place in Härmälä, Kaupinlaakso, and Härmälänranta. Currently, about 700 meters of double tracks have been installed.
As winter approaches, track installations momentarily pause, but will resume once the weather permits. The goal is to complete the majority of track installations next year, with Pirkkala celebrating its first tracks in 2026. A total of about seven kilometers of double tracks will be built between Sori Square and Partola, as well as between Kauppi Campus and Ruotula. The surface of the tracks will consist of asphalt, paving, grass, heat-tolerant plants, or gravel.
Three ongoing bridge construction sites
Bridge renovation work on the route began in early spring 2025 with the Härmälänoja and Viinikanlahti bridges. The third bridge site started in September at the Vihilahti bridge. Viinikanlahti and Vihilahti bridges are located along Hatanpää main road. Härmälänoja bridge is located on Nuolialantie, on the border of Tampere and Pirkkala.
“We are renewing each bridge in two phases. Main principle is that we first build one side of the bridge, creating paths for car traffic as well as pedestrian and cycling routes. Once the first part is completed, we move traffic, allowing us to build the other side of the bridge. Finally, we build the tracks. We have completed the first sections of Härmälänoja and Viinikanlahti, and the other sides will be ready next year,” Valjus continues.
The first section of the Vihilahti bridge will also be completed next year, and the entire bridge will be finished in 2027.
Four power supply stations along the route
In addition to street and bridge works, four power supply stations are being built along the route. Each construction area will get its own station, responsible for supplying electricity to the trams.
The power supply station buildings in Kaupinlaakso and Härmälä have already been completed, and internal electrical work has begun in Kaupinlaakso. Construction of the power supply station buildings is also progressing well in Hatanpää and Partola. The equipment and control systems required by the tramway will be installed in the power supply stations next year.
Home base for trams is expanding
The tram depot is also being expanded as part of the Pirkkala–Linnainmaa tramway construction.
The tram storage hall will expand from six to nine tracks. Excavation work began in the spring and continued through the end of the year with the installation of structural slabs, rails, and surface slabs. The impressive extension will get a roof before Christmas, after which the interior work phase will begin. The storage hall extension will be completed in autumn 2026.
Structural construction phase is also underway at the vehicle storage hall and the maintenance workshop hall. A new office building has also been built at the depot during 2025, set to be completed in spring 2026. The depot expansion is expected to be finished by Christmas 2027.
Construction continues throughout winter – tracks installed along the entire route next year
The work areas and traffic arrangements across the construction sites have been prepared for winter. Traffic routes will mainly remain the same during winter time. Although construction slows down during winter, work continues and pauses only during Christmas.
“We will continue to work as much as the weather allows during winter. For example, we will advance the construction of municipal infrastructure and bridges throughout winter. Construction activity will pick up again in spring. Next summer tracks will be visible along almost the entire route,” Valjus mentions.
In addition to tramway construction, electrification work of Tampere Tram’s switchgear has been carried out on Itsenäisyydenkatu during the summer and autumn. The goal is to ensure smooth operation in the future as the tram route expands towards Linnainmaa. The functionality of the switchgear will be tested at the beginning of the year.
In 2026, construction will largely focus on track and surface works once the underground work and bridges are completed. The goal is to implement final street arrangements by 2027. Once all technical systems and electric railway structures are installed and the entire tram system has been tested, the entire tramway construction will be completed in 2028.
