Always Moving Toward a Better Tomorrow

Helsinki Central Railway Station is Finland's busiest building and a cultural-historical national treasure. Serving travelers and city dwellers since 1919, the station has been the main station of independent Finland, a gateway to the world, and a visible part of Finnish self-image and urban culture. Today, up to 250,000 visitors pass through it daily.

The station's sustainability program guides how this protected building is developed, used, and maintained. Its focus areas are based on the views of station users, tenants, and partners, with a survey conducted in 2024 forming the basis for the materiality analysis that guides this work.

Sustainability work takes concrete form at the station as safer spaces, smoother mobility, better accessibility, more energy-efficient solutions, and a strengthening of the station's cultural value and societal role.

The renovation project launched in 2019 and set for completion in 2026 is a key implementation phase of this work. During the project, the station has been renewed so that it will continue to operate in the future as a safe, sustainable, and vibrant part of the modern city while preserving its historical value. New services and restaurants have been introduced, historical spaces have been opened to new uses, and the station's role as a place where people also linger has been strengthened. Impacts are measured and monitored, and the work will continue after the project is completed.

Environment

At the Central Railway Station, environmental responsibility focuses on reducing energy consumption in the property and supporting lower-emission mobility at the station.

Energy efficiency
Heat recovery has improved energy efficiency by approximately 20 percent. Ventilation, insulation, and technical systems have been upgraded to reduce the property's energy consumption. The automatic doors and wind lobbies in the kiosk hall reduce heat loss in busy use while also facilitating accessible passage. The electricity purchased by the property owner is produced fossil-free.

Mobility
The Central Railway Station connects different modes of transport into a smooth travel chain. This makes public transport a more functional option and strengthens the station's role as a hub for lower-emission mobility. Cycling is supported with park-and-ride facilities, and the Kaisa Tunnel and Bicycle Hall opened near the station have already improved pedestrian and cycling connections in the area.

In the City of Helsinki's Kaivokatu renovation project, due for completion in 2030, the area's traffic environment will be further developed so that private car traffic is removed from Kaivokatu and the emphasis shifts to public transport, cycling, and walking. This will also enhance the smoothness, comfort, and accessibility of the station's surroundings.

Food waste and recycling
The station instructs its restaurant operators to reduce food waste, and approximately 75 percent of restaurant tenants use the ResQ Club app to sell surplus food. Tenants are trained in sorting as part of the station's operating practices, and the waste fee model rewards better recycling.

Society

At the Central Railway Station, social responsibility means a safe and equitable everyday environment for the station's operators, stakeholders, and customers, as well as caring for the building's cultural-historical value as part of the city.

Safety
Safety is enhanced at the station through both spatial solutions and shared practices.

The station's lighting has been improved so that passageways are more clearly defined and spaces are safer to use. Routes, signage, and spatial solutions have been developed to make moving around the station smoother and safer. Accessibility has been improved, for example with automatic doors that make movement easier for all users.

The Central Railway Station has an onboarding online course covering all of its new and current employees, which brings together the station's rules, safety guidelines, and operating practices for all station operators. The course ensures that those working at the station are familiar with the special nature of this protected building as well as safety and environmental practices in Finland's busiest building. At the same time, it strengthens commitment to a respectful and safe operating environment for everyone. Completing the course is a prerequisite for receiving an access card.

Cultural-historical value
The station is not just preserved — it is used, maintained, repaired, and developed in a way that safeguards its architectural and cultural-historical value. This is also reflected in the protection regulations: the sequence of main spaces formed by the central hall, restaurant hall, ticket sales hall, western hall, and kiosk hall must be preserved as spacious hall spaces. The work is carried out in cooperation with authorities such as the Finnish Heritage Agency, and restoration respects the original materials, solutions, and scale.

Renovation project 2019–2026
In the renovation project, the station has been developed in phases so that its use, functionality, and accessibility improve while respecting the building's value. Accessibility, signage, and lighting have been upgraded, and at the same time the station has gained new services, restaurants, and renewed spaces

The station as part of urban culture
The Central Railway Station is Finland's most used valuable object. Culture at the station means both safeguarding the building's own cultural value and opening it up and engaging people in new ways.

The Museum of Finnish Citizenship, opened in the station's western wing, brings culture into everyday passage without a separate threshold. Various activations, events, and other content held at the station invite people to experience and interpret the station's significance together. For example, the 150th anniversary of Eliel Saarinen made this visible throughout the station when the clock tower rang for the first time in the station's history in Saarinen's honor. Likewise, the major conservation of the work "Landscape from Koli" and the Independence Day photo collection organized in connection with it engaged Finns, sparked social discussion, and brought the station's cultural layers closer to city dwellers.

At the same time, the Central Railway Station opens its historical spaces to event organizers. In addition to the Clock Tower event center, the station provides spaces for various content and activations on a case-by-case basis. As a well-known and visible operator, the station also participates in shared city events and takes a stand on important matters: during Earth Hour, for example, the lanterns held by the Stone Men, the clock tower lighting, and the façade lighting are switched off for one hour for the sake of the climate and nature.

Governance

At the Central Railway Station, governance must be clear, consistent, and proactive so that this protected, busy, and shared space involving many operators functions every day. Clear responsibilities, shared practices, and effective collaboration ensure that the station is developed in a controlled manner and with respect for its value.

A developing community
The station is developed together with tenants, partners, employees, and authorities. Dialogue is ongoing with the Finnish Heritage Agency, city actors, tenants, and users through, among other things, a monthly tenant letter and surveys. The goal is a community that knows the special character of the place and carries responsibility and pride for it.

An open, transparent, values-based culture
Operations are guided by ethical principles, shared rules, and clear responsibilities. VR's ethical principles emphasize a respectful work community, safety, shared decision-making rules, and an open discussion culture. VR's human rights policy, in turn, commits operations to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct. In this way, the station operates in a proper, respectful, and equitable manner.

The journey is just beginning — share feedback, share your ideas, or propose collaboration

Everyone working at the station, our partners, and our visitors play an important role in building a sustainable Central Railway Station. The journey is just beginning, and the best outcome in sustainable development is achieved together by opening the doors to all opinions, ideas, and open discussion. That is why we warmly welcome all feedback, ideas, and proposals — feel free to share them with us by email at asema@fabrik.fi.

Thank you for your collaboration!

Helsinki Central Railway Station

Kaivokatu 1, 00100 Helsinki, Suomi

The Helsinki Central Railway Station is open every day of the year Mon–Sun 05:00 – 02:00.

The opening hours of restaurants and services vary from business to business. You can find the opening hours of the restaurants and services on their websites.

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