HSL, a big-ticket item?

It’s not sustainable mobility if we can’t afford it.

In the last ten years, HSL has increased student ticket prices by almost 75%, and limited discounts to season tickets. A significant driver of costs is the fact that HSL pays municipalities for infrastructure, and the cost of building tram lines and metro construction is transferred to passengers instead of the city. It makes absolutely no sense to further burden us with infrastructure costs in a model no other European capital has. 

“Our subsidies are cut, summer jobs are few and far between, and we can’t even afford a simple train ticket. Why are we responsible for sustainable mobility in a broken HSL system?” asks Kerttu Peura, AYY Board Member in Social Policy.

Today’s cost-of-living crisis and unstable energy markets are a warning. The HSL Board and City of Espoo must support affordable mobility now through new funding models. They must negotiate with other owning municipalities. Cities can pay for secure low-carbon mobility. They must stop burdening students and low-income ridership to their breaking point.

HSL must reduce ticket prices for students and reimplement the full 50% student discount on all ticket classes, including single tickets. Affordable HSL tickets would increase ridership, expand low-carbon mobility, and reduce fare evasion. A robust and accessible HSL system will create opportunities in a future economy that works for all.

As a part of the solution, legislation should make it possible for municipalities to finance public transport with congestion charges. It is unacceptable that, thanks to their subsidies, private cars are cheaper for short journeys than round-trip HSL journeys for students. Congestion charges are already in use in several of our Nordic peer cities, and they can be used both to curb private car use and to direct the revenue generated to finance more affordable public transport.

“This local and global instability isn’t isolated. It's a warning of cascading risk that affects the social baseline of the future. But we must be brave, and this is something we can fix. It starts with being able to afford our HSL tickets,” says Brynna Justice, AYY Board Member in Internationality, Equity, and Sustainable Development.

It’s sustainable mobility month in Otaniemi, and Espoo wants to be "on the road to sustainable mobility" and "the best student city in Finland." So, we demand a cheaper HSL ticket as a required step to save Finland’s best future talent. Climate change is complex, but out-of-control infrastructure costs and ticket prices are real things HSL can change.

Further information:

Kerttu Peura, AYY Board Member: Social Policy
+358400265544

Brynna Justice, AYY Board member: Internationality, Equity, and Sustainable Development
+358 442466142