Trunk route reform reflected in ridership figures – Vilkku trunk routes record double-digit growth
Vilkku’s trunk route reform has been well received by passengers during its first months of operation. Ridership figures from June to September show that the trunk routes have attracted more public transport users compared to the corresponding period in 2025.
Change in ridership on trunk routes:
- Routes 4 (& 8): +12.6%
- Routes 5 and 6: +13.1%
Among individual routes, the strongest growth was seen on Route 6, where ridership increased by an impressive 24.9%.
The growth in trunk route usage has also contributed to the overall increase in local public transport ridership. Earlier in the year, passenger numbers had increased by 2.8%, but between June and September the increase had already reached 6.8%.
These figures demonstrate that the trunk route reform has made public transport easier to use for many passengers and has improved the attractiveness of the service. More frequent services and seamless connections continue to encourage more people to choose public transport for their everyday journeys.
The strong growth in trunk route ridership is not an isolated phenomenon but part of a longer-term trend. Over the past ten years, Vilkku’s ridership has increased by more than 70%, representing exceptionally strong growth on a national scale and placing Vilkku among the top-performing public transport systems in Finland.
Customer satisfaction remains at a high level
Customer satisfaction with Vilkku services has been monitored through regular surveys since 2018. Satisfaction is measured on a scale from 1 to 5, with a score of 4.2 generally considered excellent.
In the survey conducted in July, Vilkku services received an overall rating of 4.43, the best result recorded since measurements began. Improvements were seen in all service-related and general evaluation categories.
Particularly high ratings were received for:
- Availability of route and timetable information (4.57)
- Bus cleanliness and travel comfort (4.47)
- Service punctuality (4.61)
- Ticket products and their availability (4.47)
Routes and timetables, as well as value for money, also improved and received average ratings of over 4.3 from customers.
The results also reflect the impact of the 30 new buses introduced to local services from the beginning of June.