The City Council of Helsinki decided in favour of a fully automated Metro at its Wednesday meeting. The new system will come with a price tag of EUR 70 million.
The aim is that the Metro trains will run driverless by the year 2011.
The Council also recognised the motions by Sirpa Puhakka (Left Alliance) and Mika Ebeling (Christian Democrat).
Puhakka's motion called for Helsinki City Transport to look into the passengers' fears regarding safety, and taking the findings into account when planning the project.
Ebeling, in turn, insisted that a retraining programme for every single Metro driver be devised during this year.
The fully automated Metro is expected to enable shorter intervals between departures, while increasing the general safety of the system. The modernisation of the Metro would also include the introduction of video surveillance cameras and fire detection systems, among other things.
The new unmanned system is expected to pay itself back within ten years through its cost-effectiveness. Savings will accumulate, for example, from lower personnel expenses. Staff have expressed considerable reservations about the plan and its alleged improvements to safety.
