The Helsinki Regional Transport Authority (HSL) will raise the price of its monthly tickets in 2021.
As reported by HSL on its website, the coronavirus crisis has hit its finances "hard" and "fare increases will be necessary to offset the loss of revenue."
From the beginning of 2021, the prices of adult 30-day season tickets will increase by 3 euros. There will be no increases in the prices of single and day tickets.
On the other hand, the prices of annual tickets and saver tickets will decrease: the new price will be the price of a 30-day ticket multiplied by ten instead of by eleven as at present.
HSL explains that ticket revenue is still about 40% lower than at this time last year.
"Difficulties are expected to continue next year as ticket revenue is estimated to be at about 65% of the 2019 figures, the regional authority says.
The average price increase will be 3.8%.
No single-ticket discount for the senior
But the new year will bring other changes, like the end of discounts for the elderly on single tickets.
In 2021, people aged 70 and more will get a discount on season tickets instead of the current discount on daytime single tickets (between 9:00 and 14:00).
The price of an over 70 season ticket will decrease by more than 40%, HSL says. For example, the price of an AB ticket for the elderly will decrease from 59.70 to 34.50 euros. The discount will be similar to what students get.
Season tickets enable unlimited travel at all times at a low cost.
No more ticket sales in buses
Another change is that bus drivers will no longer sell tickets.
Tickets sales by drivers were suspended in spring 2020 due to the coronavirus epidemic and now it was decided that will not be reinstated.
According to HSL, before the pandemic ticket sales by drivers accounted for less than 1% of total.
