Kreate’s strong finish to the year continues: approximately €40 million contract from the Helsinki–Riihimäki project added to the order book

Kreate has signed a contract worth approximately €40 million with the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency for the Helsinki–Riihimäki project between Purola in Järvenpää and Nuppulinna in Tuusula. The project, located on Finland’s busiest railway section, is a continuation of six previous projects that Kreate has built on the railway section between Kerava and Järvenpää. In addition to track and electrical work, the new contract includes demanding rock excavation work. The total value of contracts in Helsinki–Riihimäki project won by Kreate is already approaching €100 million.

The construction contract won by Kreate, an infrastructure builder, between Purola and Nuppulinna is part of the extensive Helsinki–Riihimäki project, which will improve the reliability of the main line, enable an increase in passenger traffic, and promote the competitiveness of freight traffic. The Purola–Nuppulinna project will involve the completion of all construction work, including foundation work, substructure and superstructure work, electrical track, high-voltage and lighting work, outdoor security equipment installation, noise barriers, and structural engineering work.

“Winning a construction contract always feels great, especially now that cooperation with the client has gone extremely well in all six previous contracts. Starting this project is more efficient than usual, as we already have skilled personnel, machinery, and equipment from previous projects at our disposal. In practice, we will continue to build on the track we have laid with previous projects,” says construction manager Veli-Matti Aaltonen from Kreate.

“Building a new track on the main line is not the easiest task. The work is carried out in challenging ground conditions and amid extremely heavy traffic. Kreate’s solution-oriented approach and positive attitude in previous projects have helped overcome challenges through effective cooperation with the client”, says project manager Riitta Parviainen from the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency.

Versatile contract covering multiple types of construction

Kreate focuses on building projects where it can utilize both its expertise in demanding infrastructure and its experience in various types of construction. As with previous contracts in the Helsinki–Riihimäki project, Kreate will once again be putting its diverse expertise to good use in this recently won project.

“We are constructing special foundation structures, such as six pile slabs, which will be supported by a total of 30 kilometers of reinforced concrete piles and 2.5 kilometers of noise barrier built on steel pipe piles and retaining walls,” Aaltonen lists foundation construction works.

The contract also includes the demolition of the preload embankments built by Kreate in a previous contract. There is also plenty to do in track construction, with a new track with its substructure and superstructure to be built, as well as two new electric tracks covering 4.8 kilometers.

“In addition, we are constructing 49 electric rail foundations, seven new switches, and performing underpass drilling”.

Finland’s leading bridge builder will also be constructing bridges, as the contract includes the repair of the Purola and Nuppulinna overpasses and the construction of the Tyynelä western underpass using the local casting method.

“Our bridge unit will be back in jacking action next year, as the eastern underpass bridge in Tyynelä will be built using the transfer method. It will surely go smoothly with a good routine, as this year they have already jacked five bridges across Finland, both horizontally and vertically,” Aaltonen reveals.

High rock cuts alongside the track require caution

Compared to previous contracts carried out by Kreate for the Helsinki–Riihimäki project, the company will have one additional type of construction work in the new contract. Hornankallio is located on the section of track between Purola and Nuppulinna, and excavating there requires expertise in rock construction.

“Reaching heights of over ten meters and crossing electrical rail structures, the excavations at Hornankallio are exceptionally demanding. The rock is in the immediate vicinity of the railway, and the excavation work must not cause any disruption to rail traffic,” says Samuel Laitinen, the construction manager responsible for excavation at Kreate.

Kreate will excavate a total of 10,000 cubic meters of rock in the project, and the excavation is planned to be carried out in layers of approximately three meters.

“Before excavation, we reinforce the edge of the rock with pre-bolts, and after excavation, we reinforce the rock wall with rebar bolts. We reinforce the rock wall at the highest point before excavating the next layer. We will remove the edge of the rock closest to the track, i.e., a 3.5-meter-wide ledge, by wedging or ramming without explosives”, Laitinen explains the excavation stages.

Since the work is carried out under railway traffic conditions, Kreate has to carry out some of the excavation work at night during track closures.

“We inspect nearby properties before and after excavation work. We measure vibrations throughout the excavation process in the nearest buildings and railway structures. We ensure that information is communicated to both residents and other parties involved,” Laitinen assures.

Strong order backlog for railway construction – contract to be completed in October 2028

In recent years, Kreate has focused on track and tramway construction, which it has identified as one of its growth areas. The company is currently constructing several major railway and tramway projects, such as the eastern section of the Vantaa Light Rail, sections of the Tampere passenger railway yard, and the Koskela tramway depot, which includes railway and electric railway work, a switch control system, and circular economy solutions.

“We have been making good progress and have succeeded in significantly growing our track construction business, including electric railways and safety equipment. The development of our personnel’s expertise, successful recruitment, investments in equipment, and the unique articulated boom-based rail crane we have developed all underscore our strong can-do attitude,” Aaltonen summarises.

Construction work on the Helsinki–Riihimäki project 1 between Purola in Järvenpää and Nuppulinna in Tuusula is scheduled to be completed by the end of October 2028. Work will commence in January 2026. The client is the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, and Kreate will record the €40 million contract in its fourth-quarter order backlog.

Kreate’s contracts for the Helsinki–Riihimäki project

Ongoing:

The HERI2 Purola-Nuppulinna construction project 1, won in December 2025, is Kreate’s seventh contract in this large-scale project. Among other things, Kreate will build 49 new electric railway foundations, two bridges, and 4.8 kilometers of new track and electric railway. The contract is worth approximately €40 million and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028.
The fourth contract, which began in June 2024, will be completed by July 2027. In this project, Kreate is building 4 kilometers of new western track between Kytömaa and Järvenpää, along with five bridges and six switches. The contract is worth over €34 million.

Completed:

In March 2025, Kreate began its sixth contract, constructing the pier foundations for the electric railway between Purola and Nuppulinna. The nearly €2 million project was completed in August 2025.
Kreate’s fifth contract began in September 2024 and involved the construction of preloads and electric railway foundations between Purola and Nuppulinna. Preparations were made for the now-won track contract. The contract was worth €5 million and was completed in May 2025.
In the second railway project, and in the electric railway project won at the same time in June 2023, Kreate built the structures for the eastern platform of the new Ainola station, a lift shaft and an underpass bridge, designed and electrified approximately 3.5 kilometers of track, and carried out more than 7 kilometers of overhead line work.
Kreate’s first track construction project in Helsinki–Riihimäki project began in May 2023. The company built over 3 kilometers of track, four bridges, and nine switches between Kytömaa in Kerava and Ainola in Järvenpää. The contract was worth over €10 million and was completed in December 2024.