One of the issues on the table is the limitation of the right to discounts for students. The HSL board will discuss the proposals next Tuesday.
Helsinki Region Transport HSL may cut many travel-related benefits on public transport in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.
The proposed impact in euro would be €2 million per year.
HSL also considered the issue in autumn 2020.
Now, HSL also proposes that the discount percentage for students and those over 70 be reduced from 45% to 40%. HSL calculates that it will receive 1.4 million in additional income.
Students’ right to a discount would be limited to those receiving study support. The effect would be 2.3 million euros, HSL calculates.
The proposal also proposes that the granting of free tickets to events would be stopped, which would generate revenue of 1 million.
Trips for groups of schoolchildren would also be paid for. According to the proposal, its effect would be an additional 1.1 million euros.
HSL: Expenditure will increase next year
HSL justifies the reduction of benefits by the fact that they would make it possible to keep ticket price increases moderate.
In the presentation, it is stated that the operational costs of transport in the Helsinki region will increase next year by an estimated 130 million compared to 2022.
The start of the Länsimetro extension and the Raide-Joker light rail service will increase costs, which must be covered by increasing operating income, HSL states. Growth pressure also comes from the development of inflation and the rise in the price of fuel and electricity.
HSL’s goal is to collect a total of 381 million euros in box office revenue next year.
For example, in the presentation to be discussed on Tuesday, it is estimated that the demand for public transport will increase as the effects of the corona pandemic decrease, which would bring additional income of 45.1 million.
All in all, HSL estimates that the box office revenue will increase next year by 71.4 million from the current year’s estimated level as a result of the combined effect of various measures. The show includes an average six percent increase in ticket prices, HSL states.
For example, the price of a one-way ticket in the AB zone would rise from 2.80 euros to exactly 3 euros, the appendix of the presentation shows.
The new pricing of travel tickets would come into effect at the beginning of January.
*You can discuss the topic until Saturday, October 22 at 11 p.m.*