"I" or "P" Train to/from Airport to Downtown Helsinki?
 

Have a long enough layover coming up in HEL that I can make it downtown to meet some friends for lunch. Seems like the best option is to take a train (quick enough, frequent enough, good value), but of course they have 2 train options (I or P)..:rolleyes:

Is there any difference other than the in between stops to worry about? One closer to departures and security than the other on the return?

It is a loop where P runs clockwise and I counter-clockwise. Both terminate in the main railway station. P is perhaps some minutes faster, but when going to the city, I'd take the first train arriving. Same platform, just different side of it at the airport.

Whichever train comes first, in either direction

Thanks for the info!

Just make sure you buy your ticket from the machine first :) no ticket sales onboard anymore :)

Yeah, I read that, but thanks never the less!

https://www.finavia.fi/en/helsinki-a...ses-and-taxis/

I'd take the Finnair City Bus. The bus ride takes maybe a few minutes longer but there is less walking at the airport, especially if leaving from T2.

+1. And you can pay with Amex to get points.

That settles it then :D. Btw. how many points? 6?

If you arrive at the station the timetables are such that even the longer route is quicker than waiting for next, so just take the first one.

But if you plan ahead, and you are familiar with swedish prepositions, this mnemonic can be used to remember which one is shortest route:
If you are "i stan" take I train. If you are "på flygplatsen" take P train.

And also: Finally HSL app (mobiililippu) works decently for foreigners as you now can attach foreign credit card to app and buy ticket on the go.

But beware if using this app - purchased ticket still requires internet connection throughout your trip. If you don't have internet ticket is not valid and you'll get a fine. HSL have promised to fix this within a year or so...

No Wi-Fi on the train?

Oh important detail. Finnair bus has WiFi. Amex points for a local plat card would be 10/one way;)

All good, I agree, though I'm an AA EXP (OWE) from the US, so.. :p

No. The experience is pretty similar to taking the BART from SFO, only that the trains in Helsinki are quite new.

If you want to buy your ticket with Amex for the points, you can do it at the Alepa grocery store at the airport (on the arrivals floor in front of baggage claim 2B) :D

The main reason must be it's a commuter train and the local commuters don't need a Wi-Fi. Finnish smartphone users consume more mobile data per head than anyone else in the world, by a large margin. But yes foreign visitors would very much appreciate it.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmc.../#6013c53e7220

This is true, but also where HSL took the wrong path. Designing a ticket app for an airport train that only works for locals isn't their brightest move.

The "brightest" move really was discontinuing the ticket sales in the trains while still keeping the same personnel in the trains just not selling tickets anymore.

And we FTers call ourselves idiots?

Well, the app was never designed for the airport train nor for tourists, but to replace the SMS ticket (not as widely accepted as the mobile app) used by many locals.

And while I have zero information about the nationality breakdown of the tourists visiting HEL / FI, I'm guessing that a large percentage comes from within the EU (and yeah, I'm aware of the significant EU-ASIA traffic AY is building it's strategy on), thus most of them can access internet on their phones without any additional costs since June this year...

True, it is a generic local/regional traffic app, but as it was coordinated with the bright idea of removing onboard ticket sales (and just like Hartsa said, without removing the onboard staff costs!) it goes to show a flaw in the thinking:
"We are no longer selling onboard tickets, but you can instead buy them app, where we require a Finnish mobile plan and 100% internet-access, which all those who used the onboard sales are unlikely to have."

That's why I'd say they developed the app with a super-local mindset.





Indeed, and that is why I now say the app works decently for foreigners. But it was only a long time after the app was launched foreign creditcards were accepted and the "roam like at home" directive came into play, that made it reach the status "decent".

As someone who never used the app and has barely any need for HSL: what is the whole issue with the app? with many apps you get some code I just take screenshots of the code and show that screenshot. So even without any internet connection everything works.

Good question! While I have no knowledge of the local train app, the long distance train ticket works just like that.

Also if you save the page displaying the ticket to your favorites, according to vr it should show up with or without internet connection. The conductor just scans the qr code, so a screenshot would work just as well.

It is the way they designed how to validate ticket validity througout the time limit (local tickets are not one-ways, they are all you can travel within the zone for a certain amount of time).

The app has a constant connection to HSL servers to do that. If connection is lost, the ticket turns red, ie not valid. If there is an inspection you are then fined, regardless of having a legal reciept of a ticket purchase. The ticket is still in the app, with all the needed data, but it must also be authenticated against HSL servers over the net to be valid.

I assume the solution is such because the most important design criteria was to prevent creative people from forging tickets, or sharing a valid ticket with others.

The design is such that you need to prove the ticket's authenticy. The inspectors (which can be anything from a bus driver to s full fledge HRT inspector) have no burden of proof. If wrong colour is shown by traveller then deny travel and issue fine. Very efficient. Zero customer care.

It really isn’t too much to ask from locals to have their phone connected to internet and have battery, that’s the least they can do if they are not willing to purchase a travel card or get it for free.

Foreigners can (and do) buy tickets from the vending machines. There are also still a couple of vending machines on the platforms.

There are more than one of them at the airport station entrance now, one in each baggage claim areas.

For those with dual SIM phones fairly cheap options are available from R-kiosk for a local SIM card. I've done this for data only and it works well.