The city of Helsinki and the neighbouring city of Vantaa have plans for a radical expansion of the Helsinki tram network within the 2020s and 2030s that would more than double the length of the network from 2021. If completed, the plans would both extend the current tram lines and build new light rail lines.
The city council of Helsinki decided on 31 August 2016 to build a tramway to the island of Laajasalo, located to the east of Helsinki city centre. The route will include three new bridges, the longest of which will be the longest in Finland at , and its pylons one of the tallest structures in Helsinki. The bridges will have bicycle and pedestrian lanes in addition to the tramway, but no lanes for private cars. The total length of new double track, including tramways on Laajasalo itself, is about .
The Vantaa city council approved the construction of a new light rail line from Mellunmäki to Helsinki Airport in May 2023. The line is projected to open in 2029 with an estimated daily ridership of . Construction began in June 2025.
The Helsinki city council approved the general plan for the West Helsinki trams () in January 2021, with an estimated total cost of â¬160 million. The project, previously known as the Vihdintie light rail (), includes a light rail line via Vihdintie towards Kannelmäki, and new city center tram tracks via Topeliuksenkatu to relieve traffic from the crowded track on Mannerheimintie. The new light rail line from the city center to Kannelmäki is estimated to have a daily ridership of by 2030. , construction was due to start in 2026.
The Helsinki Regional Transport Authority is planning to re-organise the current lines as new light rail lines are being built.
In April 2022, the plan initially included small- to medium-length extensions, such as the works in Itä-Pasila and Jätkäsaari, and the extension to Laajasalo. Under this plan, the tram lines at the end of 2027 would be arranged as follows:
From roughly 2035, the lines would be arranged as follows:
A construction of a light rail or tram system has also been proposed as a possible solution of arranging public transport in the ÃÂstersundom area annexed by Helsinki from Vantaa and Sipoo on 1 January 2009. An extension of the Helsinki Metro was originally planned as the main form of public transport for this area, but on 20 February 2009 a newspaper reported that a light rail system is being studied as an alternative to supplement or replace the Metro connection to this area due to the lower costs of a light rail link. If built, the light rail link could be extended as far east as Porvoo. As proposed in 2024, the new system would provide a transfer to Metro as well as current and planned light rail lines: Helsinki light rail line 15 in Itäkeskus, Vantaa light rail in Bredbacka, and the light-rail conversion of the bus route 560 ("Jokeri 2") in Fallbacka.