Published on May 12, 2026
Destia, the Finnish subsidiary of global infrastructure group Colas, has secured a second contract to advance construction of the Vantaa light rail project in Finland, with the new agreement valued at approximately €200 million (US$235 million). The contract covers the remaining portion of the western section of the tramway, a 12-kilometre stretch that will incorporate utility network installations and electrification works. This second order follows the initial service agreement signed in November 2025, valued at around €230 million, which launched the first phase of construction. Together, Destia’s combined share of the broader project now amounts to approximately €433 million out of a total estimated programme cost of €750 million. The full four-year construction effort is being delivered through an alliance model that brings together Destia, engineering and consulting firms Sitowise and Ramboll Finland, the City of Vantaa, the Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY), and Capital Region Urban Transport representing the City of Helsinki. Light rail operations across the western section are scheduled to commence by late 2029, at which point Vantaa will become the fourth city in Finland to operate a tramway network.
A Region Building Itself on Rails
The Vantaa tramway represents far more than a transit upgrade. It is the centrepiece of a long-term urban development strategy that envisions 60,000 new residents and 30,000 new jobs along the tram corridor by 2050, serving one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in Northern Europe. The 19.3-kilometre line will connect the easternmost districts of Vantaa to the national railway network and provide a direct link to Helsinki Airport, addressing a longstanding gap in cross-town connectivity. Construction work through this new order will extend to complex structures including a tunnel beneath Tikkurila railway station, which will remain operational throughout the build. Pedestrian and cycling routes will be comprehensively redesigned alongside the rail works, while underground networks covering water supply, pipes, and cables will be fully refurbished in parallel. The project fits within a broader wave of light rail investment transforming the Helsinki capital region: the Jokeri Light Rail line 15, a 25-kilometre orbital route connecting Itäkeskus in Helsinki to Keilaniemi in Espoo, opened in October 2023 ahead of schedule, and tram line 13 from Kalasatama to Pasila followed in August 2024. This momentum is also reinforced by major bridge-led transit infrastructure initiatives in the Finnish capital, including Helsinki’s Crown Bridges project, which is reshaping the cityscape while expanding sustainable transport connections across the region. The Vantaa project is the most ambitious addition to this expanding network, and its alliance delivery model mirrors the approach that made the Jokeri project a widely cited success in Nordic infrastructure delivery.
Project Fact Sheet
- Project Name: Vantaa Light Rail (Western Section, Second Contract)
- Location: Vantaa, Greater Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland
- Project Value: Approximately €200 million (US$235 million) for the second contract; total programme value approximately €750 million
- Client/Owner: City of Vantaa; Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY); Capital Region Urban Transport (representing the City of Helsinki)
- Main Contractor: Destia (subsidiary of Colas Group)
- Key Components: 12km of tramway track, utility network installations, electrification works, tunnel beneath Tikkurila railway station, road and pedestrian infrastructure upgrades
- Delivery Model: Alliance model (two separate alliances covering western and eastern sections)
- Construction Start: November 2025 (Phase 1); Phase 2 contract signed May 2026
- Expected Completion: Late 2029
- Route Length (Full Line): 19.3 kilometres with 27 stops
- Strategic Impact: Will provide direct connectivity from eastern Vantaa to the national rail network and Helsinki Airport; supports urban corridor growth targets of 60,000 new residents and 30,000 new jobs by 2050
Project Team
- Client/Owner: City of Vantaa
- Co-Clients: Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY); Capital Region Urban Transport Ltd (Pääkaupunkiseudun Kaupunkiliikenne Oy)
- Main Contractor: Destia Oy (subsidiary of Colas Group)
- Parent Group: Colas (France)
- Engineering and Design (Alliance): Sitowise Oy; Ramboll Finland Oy
- Government Financing: City of Vantaa (€541 million share); Government of Finland (€144 million); HSY (€53 million); City of Helsinki (€12 million)
- Information Modelling Support: Vektor.io
- Regulatory Authority: Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom)
