Station District [City of Tampere]

The Station District is the most significant development area in central Tampere. The new city district will take shape above the current passenger railway yard and will densify and add cohesion to the city centre, bringing thousands of new residents and jobs to the Railway Station’s surroundings. At the same time, the development will transform the station itself into a travel hub that combines all modes of transport. The objective in the development work is to transform this area, which is allocated in the plans as a tall construction zone, into a pleasant, greener, visually striking and original architectural whole in which high-rises are interwoven in an organic fashion into the existing urban fabric surrounding the heritage-listed Railway Station and its cultural and historical environment.

The Station District is comprised of three deck structures constructed above the Tampere passenger railway yard and of the high-rises to be built in connection with these structures. The first of the three decks, the south deck to the south of Kalevantie Road, was completed in 2020, and two high-rises and the Nokia Arena have already been constructed on top of it. Next in line are the north deck with its high-rise development to be built on the north side of Kalevantie, as well as the station deck and the high-rises that are to be built in connection with the station.

The Station District is developed through several projects

The development of the Station District is linked to several significant transport projects, among other ventures. The new Ratapihankatu street alignment introduced a new north-south road connection across the city centre from the Rantatunneli road tunnel to Viinikankatu Street. Traffic on the tramline running through the Station District was launched in 2021.

Over the coming years, The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency will launch the renewal of the Tampere passenger railway yard. In connection with the renewal, the Itsenäisyydenkatu road underpass and the old indoor station tunnel will be combined into a spacious travel terminal with a tram stop as well as smooth connections to the station platforms, P-Hämppi underground parking, bicycle parking as well as the bus platforms that are planned for the current Pakkahuoneenaukio square.

P-Hämppi will undergo a two-phase expansion to enable the demolition of the current P-Asema above-ground parking facility at the station to make room for infill construction to accommodate new housing, commercial and office premises, as well as services. The P-Hämppi expansion will serve the current users of the area, Nokia Arena event-goers, as well as new residents and workers.

Next step: Travel and Service Centre

Following the successful completion of Nokia Arena, the Travel and Service Centre project continues the development of the Station District.

Tornitaloja rautatieaseman ympäristössä ja henkilöratapihan yllä

Developing the Tampere railway station area

The renewal will increase the rail transport capacity and improve the comfort and convenience of travel. The project is being implemented by the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency.

Underground parking

The P-Hämppi expansion and new underground driving connection at Viinikankatu enable the development of the above-ground space in the area for housing and working.

Underground city centre

P-Hämppin pysäköintihalli maanalla sinisessä valaistuksessa, keskellä ajoväylä ja molemmin puolin autoja

The Station District development will be implemented in phases

The new constructions and interesting landmarks will be built in the Station District one by one, and the overall development of the area will continue throughout the entire construction phase. The sights in the development plans are currently set on the mid-2030s, but the area’s transformation will begin to be seen and felt particularly during the 2020s. Nokia Arena was finished in 2022, and new projects will continue to be completed throughout the 2020s. One of the largest measures in the 2020s will be the renewal of the Tampere passenger railway yard. The project will have a significant impact on improving the pleasantness and functionality of the Railway Station’s surroundings. The aim is for the entire Station District to be completed in roughly 2040.

Estimated Station District implementation schedule

2021-2022

The tram runs through the area on Itsenäisyydenkatu. Nokia Arena and the south deck are completed. Planning for the travel terminal to be implemented in the Itsenäisyydenkatu underpass is underway. The local detailed plan for the P-Hämppi expansion is completed and approved.

2023-2024

2023: The GO21 building was completed.

2023: A new plan for the area between the Railway Station and the Sorin silta bridge was initiated. The plan combines the Travel and Service Centre project area with that of the north deck. Studio Libeskind was commissioned to draw up the reference plan.

2023: Government funding was granted for the renewal of the Tampere passenger railway yard.

Implementation plans were approved for the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency and City of Tampere joint projects that are included in the passenger railway yard renewal. The joint projects include the renewal of the Itsenäisyydenkatu railway underpass, the Erkkilän silta overpass, as well as the Tampereen valtatie and Viinikka underpasses.

2024: Signing of the alliance agreement for the passenger railway yard renewal and launch of the development phase.

2025

The Tullikamari renovation begins.

Targeted launch of the passenger railway yard renewal.

The preparatory-phase plans for both the north deck and the Travel and Service Centre are placed on public display, according to current estimates.

2026-2028

2026: The Tullikamari renovation is completed.

The P-Hämppi expansion has been completed.
The first phase of the Travel and Service Centre is underway.
Planning for the north deck is underway.

Frequently asked questions

The Tampere railway yard splits the city centre in half, and getting from one side of the railway to the other has not been very convenient. The new Station District will turn the city centre into a more densely built and connected whole.

The area falls in the most central location in Tampere’s city centre and is one of the key nodes in Finnish railway transport; it is the first thing that travellers see when arriving in or passing through our city. The traveller volume at Tampere Railway Station is immense and projected to increase even further. In 2035, the estimated number of travellers arriving in or departing from the station will reach approximately 5.1 million.

It is highly unusual on a Finnish and European scale that such an undeveloped area exists at the very heart of a city. Developing the Station District will bring new residents and businesses to the area, increasing its vitality. By developing the area, we can also make travel chains smoother and improve the pleasantness and functionality of the area as a whole.

Architectural design plays a significant role in the development of the area. New and original architecture, such as the Nokia Arena and the adjacent high-rises designed by Daniel Libeskind, is already complementing the existing, recognizable image of Tampere. Variations in architecture make Tampere an interesting destination from the point of view of tourism, for example.

The Itsenäisyydenkatu road underpass will undergo a renewal in the passenger railway yard project by the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency. At the same time, the road underpass and the indoor Asematunneli station tunnel will be combined into a spacious travel terminal with direct connections to the station platforms.

Updated 27.2.2025