The revised winter transport timetables for the Kotka region will come into effect when schools start.
The Kotka region's winter transport timetables for 2026–2027 will come into effect at the start of the comprehensive school year on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. The timetables are valid until Sunday, June 6, 2027. The timetables have been published In the Kotka region route guide and on the public transport website wheretogo.fi.
Printed timetable booklets will be distributed to the customer service points in Kotka and Hamina in Ruori and Rinkeli by Friday 7.8 August.
In addition to the schedule changes, changes in the operator will also come into effect. The change regarding Hamina is that Taksikulüset Harri Vuolle Oy will be responsible for minibus traffic in all municipalities in the area. The change is based on competitive bidding conducted at the beginning of the year. The competitive bidding did not apply to minibus services between Hamina and Virolahti.
Changes to school travel and shopping connections in Hamina
In the Hamina–Kotka service, there will be changes to the school day services running in addition to line 1, which will be operated as line variations 1A, 1M, 1U, 1V, 99 and 99R.
Line 1M will once again run between Kotka and Hamina on a partially accelerated route compared to line 1. However, due to cost-saving needs, the line will only have one morning shift and two afternoon shifts,
says Esa Partanen, Public Transport Manager of the City of Kotka.The afternoon service of bus 99 from Hamina to Pyhtää will change to alternating. The change will take place at Rantahaka in Kotka. At the same time, the afternoon service code of bus 99 will change to bus 99R.
The most significant route change in Hamina's school transport is the route change of route 78. The line will now run via Kirkkojärvi. The change will serve, for example, the journey of students from Kolsila and Sivat to Pappilansalmi school. In addition, two routes of route 86 will be added in Hamina, which will operate from Alakaupungin to the city centre on school days.
Minor changes have also been made to school transport services in the Metsäkylä, Uusi-Summa, Mäntlahti and Vilniemi areas.
In the direction of Metsäkylä, traffic will mainly be handled by a large bus in the future, as new turning points have been completed. Last winter, traffic was handled by two small buses.
For cost-saving reasons, the number of service traffic in Hamina has had to be reduced compared to the last winter season. Service traffic will be operated by one bus instead of the previous three buses. During school days, service traffic will be available once a week on routes P070, P071, P072, P073 and P076. The service traffic schedules for holidays will be the same as in summer 2026.
The reduction in service traffic during school weeks will be compensated for by two new shopping taxi routes. In addition, shopping connection services will be operated by regular bus from the northern villages of Hamina. Shopping service services by regular bus have been added mainly in the morning: from Metsäkylä for three days a week, from Kannusjärvi for two days a week and from Pyhällö once a week.
The new H2 service taxi will operate on Tuesdays during school weeks on the Pyötsaari–Mäntlahti–Vilniemi city center route and serve the same area as the P077 service line operating during holiday weeks. The H3 service taxi will operate on Wednesdays during school weeks on the Neuvoton–Summa–Hillo–Etelä-Poitsila city center route and serve the same area as the P079 service line operating during holiday weeks. The H1 service taxi will continue to operate on Mondays in the direction of Pyhällö and Myllykylä.
Please note that the trip must be ordered no later than the day before. Waltti card or Waltti Mobile tickets are not accepted as payment methods.
reminds Partanen.More information about winter season schedules on the public transport website (Jonnejaminne.fi).