Kreate is renovating the Kannelmäki train station in Helsinki – the nearly €8.5 million project is part of a renovation of three stations along the Ring Rail Line

Kreate is carrying out an extensive renovation of the Kannelmäki train station, which will modernize the station’s environment by improving its safety and accessibility, as well as the flow of passenger traffic. Most of the work will be carried out during the rail service suspension in the summer of 2026. What makes the project particularly challenging is the repair of the overpass running above the electrified track, where every stage of the work is strictly tied to the schedule for the rail traffic interruption. The contract awarded is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Transport Authority’s renovation of three consecutive Ring Rail Line stations, of which Kreate is also carrying out the renovation of the train station built in the Malminkartano tunnel in Helsinki.

Kreate signed a contract with Helsinki Metropolitan Area Transport for the renovation of the Kannelmäki train station. The project, which will begin in April–May, will renovate the platform area, stairways, elevators, and canopies at Kannelmäki Station, as well as its electrical and HVAC systems.

One of the most challenging parts of the project is the bridge crossing the Ring Rail Line.

“The phased reinforcement and repair of the overpass is one of the most technically demanding components of the project. The bridge runs over an electrified railway line, so the demolition and reinforcement work must be planned and carried out with exceptional precision. We will be replacing the load-bearing bridge deck, the roof, and the glass facades, as well as reinforcing the steel frame during a 10-week rail traffic suspension, during which every phase of the work is tied to a precise daily schedule,” says Teemu Kiiskinen, project manager at Kreate’s bridge unit.

“The scaffolding and protective structures under the bridge are extensive, and they help us ensure the safety of both the construction site and the tracks throughout the construction process,” he continues.

Work carried out in phases improves safety and ensures smooth traffic flow

The renovation of Kannelmäki station will improve passengers’ daily lives in many ways, as safety and accessibility are enhanced and the usability of the entire station area is improved. For example, the renovation of platform structures, stairs, elevators, and the connecting bridge will create smoother and clearer access routes to the tracks.

Work will begin in April–May 2026 with preparatory work, during which necessary detours and temporary arrangements will be put in place for passenger traffic as the existing stairs are taken out of service and the old structures begin to be demolished. Temporary lighting and clear signage in the station area will ensure people can move around safely throughout the construction period.

The most critical phases of the work will be carried out during the rail service suspension from June 1 to August 9, 2026, during which time trains will not run on the Ring Rail Line between Huopalahti and Myyrmäki. During the service interruption, trains will not stop at Malminkartano, Pohjois-Haaga, or Kannelmäki stations.

“Once the renovation is complete, Kannelmäki Station will be better equipped to handle the growing number of passengers. Projects like this highlight Kreate’s strong expertise in bridge construction and repair, which is complemented by our company’s expertise in railway construction. The project we’re carrying out will serve the Ring Rail Line and its users well into the future,” says Antti Kokkonen, head of Kreate’s bridge unit.

Environmental responsibility and zero-emission goals guide our implementation

Construction in Kannelmäki is carried out with the lowest possible emissions and in the most resource-efficient manner. The construction site uses electric and hybrid vehicles, transportation is planned to minimize emissions, and material flows, such as the consumption of concrete and steel, are systematically monitored in accordance with Green Deal principles.

“Environmental considerations are evident at every stage of the process. For example, all materials from the demolition phase, such as concrete, steel, wood, and insulation, as well as electrical and electronic waste, are sorted into their respective waste streams, and concrete and natural stone aggregates are sent for reuse. Practical solutions like these genuinely make the construction site more low-emission and integrate environmental goals into the day-to-day work of infrastructure construction,” explains Kiiskinen.

The renovation of Kannelmäki train station will be completed in December 2026. It is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Transport project, which involves the simultaneous renovation of three consecutive stations on the Ring Rail Line: Kannelmäki, Malminkartano, and Pohjois-Haaga. On Friday, March 20, 2026, Kreate announced that it had been awarded a contract to repair the structures of the train station built inside the Malminkartano tunnel.

The contract for the renovation of the Kannelmäki train station is worth nearly 8.5 million euros and will be recorded in Kreate’s first-quarter order backlog.