DS & FI-2091209 Trams of Helsinki

The Helsinki tram network forms part of the Helsinki public transport system organised by Helsinki Regional Transport Authority and operated by Helsinki City Transport (Finnish: Helsingin kaupungin liikenne) in Helsinki.

The trams are the main means of transport in the city centre. 54.9 million trips were made in 2009. The Helsinki system is one of the oldest electrified tram networks in the world.

Helsinki is the only city in Finland to still have tram traffic. Two other Finnish cities—Turku and Vyborg (now part of Russia)—used to have tram systems. Vyborg abandoned its trams in 1957, after the city had been ceded to the Soviet Union following the result of World War II. Turku withdrew its trams in 1972.

In Helsinki, there are 13 tram lines in operation. Line 9 is the latest to open on 10 August 2008 and also the latest to have its route changed, with the opening of the extension to West Harbour on 13 August 2012.

The Tram network of Helsinki is built almost exclusively on the streets of Helsinki, making it a traditional tram system rather than a light rail one. The track gauge is one metre. The network consists almost entirely of double tracks. In some parts the tracks are separated from other road traffic; elsewhere they share road space with cars and buses.

The trams are powered with electricity conveyed by overhead wires. Trams have their own traffic lights, distinguished from normal lights in that they are based on symbols of single colour: an upward-pointing arrow signifies "go", a horizontal line "prepare to stop" and the letter S "stop". The traffic lights are synchronised to allow tram and bus traffic to flow relatively smoothly. This system is called HeLMi (Helsinki Public Transport Signal Priority and Passenger Information).

The first postcard shows a tram in winter.  It was sent by Kaisa Seppānen-Hokka (1 May 2014) Direct Swap Postcrossing.

The second postcard was sent by MillaMagia (9 May 2014) Postcrossing FI-2091209.  The 1975 photograph on this postcard shows Tram 60 (Valmet type) running on Line 3B (which in 2013 was renamed as Line 3).