Photo: Helsinki Metropolitan Area Public Transport Ltd
The Vaarala tram depot project, carried out by Helsinki Metropolitan Area Public Transport Ltd, is moving on to the next phase, and the public procurement process to select the project management contractor has begun. Boost Brothers is providing support services for the collaborative construction project in Vaarala.
The Vaarala depot will be built in the Vaarala neighborhood, part of the Hakunila subregion, west of the heavily trafficked Ring Road III and north of Porvoonväylä. The depot will serve Vantaa’s future tram system, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2029.
A versatile and low-carbon depot complex
The goal of the city’s public transit department is to ensure that the Vaarala depot is a pioneering project in terms of environmental sustainability and energy efficiency. Low-carbon solutions, such as recycled materials, reused building components, and low-carbon concrete, will be utilized in the construction and design. The project aims to achieve the “Outstanding” level of the BREEAM environmental certification.
Procurement of the project management contractor is in progress
The building construction contract for the Vaarala tram depot will be carried out using the project management contract (PJU) model, and the public procurement process for the contractor has begun. This procurement process is particularly timely and interesting because it involves planning how the project management contractor responsible for building construction will be integrated into the rest of the depot project—specifically, the rail yard alliance responsible for track construction.
Construction will begin next year
Design work for the depot is progressing, and construction is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2026. The goal is for the Vaarala depot to become operational in 2028 so that tram service in Vantaa can begin as planned in 2029.
Boost lays the groundwork for the project’s success
Boost is serving in a support role for this collaborative construction project, integrating with the client to form a joint project management organization. These support tasks include, among other things, project management support, design supervision, and the preparation and execution of procurements. In collaboration with the client and other project stakeholders, Boost is laying the groundwork for the smooth and successful implementation of the project.
“The Vaarala depot is a key part of the Vantaa tram project and its future operations. It’s great to be part of a project that combines functionality, energy efficiency, and ambitious environmental goals,” says Suvi Seppälä, Project Manager at Boost.