Snow | In Helsinki’s Punavuori, an electric bus called an ambulance to the rescue – Snow makes HSL’s bus traffic difficult

Rich Snow revenue has made bus traffic across Helsinki so difficult that Helsinki Region Transport (HSL) announced the cancellation of an exceptional number of flights on Wednesday morning.

There have also been difficulties with long electric articulated buses, which began operating on lines 20 and 30 in the city center last autumn.

On Fredrikinkatu in Helsinki, Viiskulma, the rescue service’s towing aid has been needed from time to time to get the articulated bus stuck on the hill moving.

HS reader Kullervo Latvanen testified on Monday in a tram traffic jam in Viiskulma as an articulated bus was helped up a hill. On Tuesday, he described a similar situation. Laitinen’s pictures show a long articulated bus drifting almost across the street and the sand sprinkled behind the tires.

“I burst out laughing when I saw that the same situation again,” Latvanen says.

Trunk lines 20 and 30 are operated by Nobina. Traffic manager Mårten Winqvist estimates that the snowfall during Monday and Tuesday has been the worst of the three snowstorms this winter, causing the most problems.

“There have been difficulties in Viiskulma, but also elsewhere. We are currently researching tire options, but then it is a preparation for next winter. ”

Due to a bad snowfall, Nobina has changed equipment. Electric joint buses, especially on Tuesday, have been replaced by 3-axle diesel buses that can accommodate almost as many passengers as articulated buses.

“Their advantage is the bogie reducer. The driver can lift the rear axle with its wheels, so that the entire weight of the bus is applied to the driving wheels. HSL has understood the situation and authorized the temporary replacement of the equipment. ”

Winqvist has had a long career in bus traffic, and has experienced snowy winters in the past. This February has been exceptional because of the frequent and heavy snowfall.

“The road has been scary,” Winqvist describes.

Nobina’s electric articulated bus service has recovered on Wednesday, according to Winqvist.