Brussels, 04/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) announced on Friday 1 April that it was to lend up to €450 million to the project company Länsimetro, owned jointly by the City of Espoo and the City of Helsinki, for the construction of a 14-kilometre line from central Helsinki to Espoo. The Westmetro project comprises a double-track, fully automated line with seven new stations and will link to the existing network in Central and Eastern Helsinki. More than 100,000 passengers per day are expected to use the new line where the automated system will enable traffic at 2.5-minute intervals at peak times, with an option to shorten this to 90 seconds at a later stage. The Westmetro line will replace existing bus services and “will encourage commuters to switch from road traffic”, the EIB says. This, it goes on “will bring significant environmental benefits when completed at the end of 2015”. In addition to the EIB loan, the project is also supported by the Nordic Investment Bank, the Finnish government and the two municipalities. (O.L./transl.rt)