A record 9,35 million people traveled on Linkki public transport in 2024
The popularity of public transport travel is on a steady growth trend in the Jyväskylä region. A record number of trips made by public transport were recorded in 2024, approximately 9,35 million. The growth in travel from the previous year was approximately 7 percent.
A year of major reforms
Linki's operating area expanded in early 2024, and public transport services are now provided to approximately 205 residents in seven municipalities. The new Linkki municipalities are Äänekoski, Hankasalmi, Toivakka and Petäjävesi. With the change, Linki's affordable ticket products and convenient electronic services were introduced throughout the area. Due to the regional expansion, Linki's payment zone system was also revised and clarified. The new payment zones cover the entire new Linkki area, while the number of zones was reduced from four to three.
At the beginning of June, the Linki route network reform was implemented, in which public transport in the Jyväskylä and Muurame areas was renewed to serve the needs of increased travel and developing areas. Four new lines, 9, 9K, 45 and 46, began operating, among others. The lines on the most frequently used routes were renewed as Super-Linkki lines with more extensive service than before, which can be identified by their line numbers starting with S (S1–S6) and their purple-hued appearance.
After the new transport agreements came into effect in the summer, the renewal and electrification of the fleet also began. Electrification is an important step towards emission-free public transport in the Jyväskylä region. 64 new electric vehicles were introduced to the public transport system in the Linkki area to replace older diesel buses.
The prices of ticket products had to be revised twice during 2024. The price changes at the beginning of the year were due to the weakened financial situation of municipalities and increased cost pressures, while the changes in June were mainly due to the renewal of payment zones. Before 2024, Link ticket prices had never been increased. Since travel is expected to continue to grow, the aim is to keep the increases as low as possible in the future. The goal is to exceed the 10 million annual journeys mark in 2025.
Statistics and reach
The most popular travel month in 2024 was November (993 trips) and the most popular travel day was Wednesday, December 435 (4.12 trips). Of the Link lines, the most traveled was the Super-Link line S42 (formerly line 837) on the route Kaakkolampi–Jyväskylä city center–Laajavuori–Palokka, with a total of 5 trips. The second most traveled was the Super-Link line S25 (formerly 1) on the route Mustalampi–Jyväskylä city center–Palokka Lehtoniemi, with a total of 405 trips. The third most popular was line 369, which operates from Kangaslampi to Jyväskylä city center and Myllyjärvi/Keltinmäki, with 6 trips.
Of the ticket products, the most used was the adult 30-day season ticket, with 1 journeys. Mobile tickets were used 421 times, and contactless tickets 390 times.
As the number of trips increased, the number of feedback and customer visits also increased. Link received 3513 pieces of feedback regarding public transport. The Linkki service point on Asemakatu was visited 41 times and the Linkki telephone service answered 353 advice calls.
Linkki, a service providing real-time public transport timetable and route guide information route guide.jyvaskyla.fi There were approximately 8 million visits and 73 million page views. Alongside the electronic services, there is still a traditional, paper timetable booklet, of which a total of 46 copies were printed. The timetable booklet is intended for those who cannot or do not want to use the electronic timetable service. The booklet is free of charge and can be picked up from a distribution point.
On the central information channel for public transport linkki.jyvaskyla.fi There were a total of 2,4 million page views and 1,1 million visits. Important interaction channels on social media include Linkin Facebook https://www.facebook.com/linkkijyvaskyla and Link's Instagram channel, which has a total of about 10 followers.
In May, it was published between seven different regional newspapers Link news-an appendix that informed residents of Jyväskylä, Laukaa, Muurami, Äänekoski, Hankasalmi, Toivakka and Petäjävesi about changes in public transport and other current issues. Linkkiuutiset was also published as an electronic magazine in September. Both 2024 publications can be found electronically on the Linki website https://linkki.jyvaskyla.fi/asiakaspalvelu-ja-ohjeet/asiakaspalvelu.
The use of public transport is promoted and the service is developed
Public transport-related Bus hopping to school -lesson has been visited in all elementary school classes for over 10 years. With the regional expansion of Link, Bussiloikka also expanded to schools in Äänekoski, Hankasalmi, Toivakka and Petäjävesi in addition to Jyväskylä, Laukaa and Muurame. Bussiloikka visited 112 classes and met approximately 2000 children and their teachers. Bussiloikka is a play-based teaching session on public transport offered by Link, the practical implementation of which is responsible for the Jyväskylä Sustainable Development JAPA ry.
In autumn 2024, Linkki delivered 5650 welcome packages to new polytechnic and university students, which included, among other things, public transport information and a three-day trial ticket. The measure aims to lower the threshold for students to use public transport and familiarise them with the services of the study location. Residents are also encouraged to use Linkki, for example through ticket offers. Approximately 30 3500-day season tickets were sold at a reduced price in the September Valonväläys campaign. The use of public transport is also marketed through travel trials. Travel on Linkki public transport buses was free in the evening during the Jyväskylä City of Light event weekend from 26 to 28.9 September. Approximately 40 free trips were made in connection with the event.
As a result of ticket and marketing cooperation with sports clubs, JYP's season ticket now serves as a travel ticket for Linkki trips on home game nights. Similarly, Happe match and season tickets can be used for Linkki trips to the club's home games in Leppävesi.
Customer satisfaction with Linkki's services remained good. Linkki conducts three service quality surveys annually, in which 700 randomly selected passengers are asked to rate the service. The drivers' actions (customer friendliness and driving style) and the cleanliness of the fleet are examined. In 2024, the average rating given for the service was 4,15 on a scale of 1-5, where 1 = poor, 5 = excellent. Customer ratings have remained excellent for several years. Linkki's recommendation index NPS (Net Promoter Score) was 49,5 based on customer satisfaction measurements. The figure shows how likely customers would recommend the service to others, and a result approaching 50 can be considered very good.
The customer council also participates in the development of public transport, and met four times in 2024. The meetings discussed, among other things, the new zoning model for the Linkki area, the allocation of VAT increases for ticket prices, the development of the customer council's work, and the Jyväskylä walking and cycling development program. At the end of the year, a search for members of the customer council was organized, through which new councilors were recruited, mainly from Linkki's new partner municipalities.
Coming in 2025
Linkki public transport will receive hydrogen power in the summer of 2025, when Finland's first buses powered by hydrogen will be put into use for public transport. Through the collaboration, Linkki public transport will receive hydrogen-powered buses for a two-year pilot period, replacing some of the traditional combustion engine buses. The aim of the collaboration between Linkki public transport and Cefmof Finland is to promote the use of environmentally friendly and sustainable means of transport in the city. More information about the project will be available closer to the introduction of hydrogen buses.
The update of the Link to the Future 2030 development program will start in 2025. The program sets both short- and long-term development goals, which will be expanded to cover the entire public transport area of the seven municipalities.
The Jyväskylä public transport Linkkikeskus is expected to be completed in the city centre this year. The stops will move to permanent locations along Vapaudenkatu in late autumn. The city centre's main stops have been temporarily located on Asemakatu for the third winter, where space has been extremely limited in relation to the volume of traffic and customers. Now there is already light at the end of the tunnel: the long wait for public transport users, drivers and area operators will probably be over before next winter. Linkki thanks everyone involved for their patience in the long-running project.
Additional information:
Service Manager Kari Ström, Jyväskylä Region Public Transport LINKKI, tel. 050 60943, kari.strom[at]jyvaskyla.fi
News published, modified 15.1.2025 at 14:14