Survey: Tramway remains highly popular in Tampere, with support growing in Pirkkala
Tampere Tramway Ltd. conducts an annual consumer survey to assess the opinions and attitudes of Tampere and Pirkkala residents towards the Tramway. The surveys show that attitudes towards the Tramway are very positive in both Tampere and in Pirkkala. Over the years, the Tramway has won over a growing number of residents.
According to the Tampere Tramway consumer survey, 90% of Tampere residents and 75% of Pirkkala residents view the Tramway positively. Last year, the corresponding figures were 91% in Tampere and 72% in Pirkkala. By comparison, 6% of Tampere residents and 14% of Pirkkala residents have a negative view of the Tramway.
The proportion of respondents in Tampere with a very positive attitude towards the Tramway is 68%, which is three percentage points lower than last year. In Pirkkala, the proportion of respondents with a very positive attitude towards the Tramway has fallen by four percentage points since last year, to 44%.In Tampere, 2% of respondents have a very negative attitude towards the Tramway, and in Pirkkala, the corresponding figure is 5%. Last year, the corresponding figures were only 1% in Tampere and 7% in Pirkkala.
– The consumer survey provides us with valuable information about residents’ experiences of the Tramway and how their views change over time. That is why receiving the results is so exciting each year. The survey enables us to monitor residents’ expectations, identify areas for development and ensure that the Tramway serves both existing and future service areas as efficiently as possible, says Pekka Sirviö, CEO of Tampere Tramway Ltd.
Tampere Tramway Ltd. has commissioned an annual consumer survey in Tampere since 2017 and in Pirkkala since last year. In Tampere, the first survey found that 56% of residents viewed the Tramway positively and 26% negatively. The corresponding figures for Pirkkala, where the survey was first conducted in February 2025, were 66% and 19%. This means that over the years, support for the Tramway has grown by 34 percentage points in Tampere and nine percentage points in Pirkkala.
– It is great to see that the Tramway continues to enjoy such a high level of public confidence in both Tampere and Pirkkala. The fact that nine out of ten Tampere residents have a positive attitude towards the Tramway is a very strong result. We are also happy to see that public support continues to grow in Pirkkala. The long-term results show that a growing number of people see the Tramway as a useful, well-functioning transport solution that makes everyday life easier and connects our urban areas, Sirviö says.
Almost all Tampere residents and 80% of Pirkkala residents have travelled by Tram
As many as 96% of Tampere residents and 80% of Pirkkala residents report having travelled by Tram. Since last year, the figure has risen by three percentage points in Tampere and 14 percentage points in Pirkkala. The survey indicates that travelling by Tram is associated with more positive attitudes towards the Tramway. In Tampere, 59% of respondents feel this way. In Pirkkala, the corresponding number is 48%. Currently, nearly half of the population in Tampere, 47%, and 11% of Pirkkala residents travel by Tram at least on a weekly basis. Tampere residents primarily use the Tram to travel from home to the city centre, while Pirkkala residents mainly use it for short journeys within central Tampere.
The survey also examines whether the Tramway affects respondents’ use of public transport. In Tampere, 59% of respondents reported an increase in their use of public transport. After the Tramway’s first year of operation in 2020, 39% of Tampere residents reported a similar trend. In Pirkkala, 54% of respondents either reported that the Tramway had increased their use of public transport or expected it to do so in the future. In the beginning of last year, the corresponding figure in Pirkkala was 49%. In Tampere, the Tramway primarily reduces private car use, whereas in Pirkkala its main effect is a reduction in bus use. Last year, 56% of private car drivers in Tampere said the Tramway has increased their use of public transport. This year, the figure has increased by nine percentage points to 65%.
The Tramway has a positive impact on the development of residential areas
More than half of Tampere residents, 53%, feel that the Tramway has had a positive impact on the development of their neighbourhood. This is three percentage points higher than last year. According to the survey, the positive impact is particularly evident in residential areas close to the tram line (58% in 2026, 54% in 2025, and 49% in 2024). Correspondingly, eight per cent of respondents feel that the Tramway’s impact on the development of their neighbourhood has been negative, whereas last year the figure was six per cent. In Pirkkala, 42% of respondents feel that the Tramway has a positive impact on the development of their neighbourhood. The proportion of respondents who view the impact positively is one percentage point higher than last year. In Pirkkala, 17% of respondents see the impact of the Tramway as negative. The figure has fallen by four percentage points from last year.
About the consumer surveys
The Tampere Tramway consumer surveys were commissioned by Tampere Tramway Ltd. and conducted by IROResearch Ltd. in October 2026. The aim was to assess the opinions and attitudes of Tampere and Pirkkala residents towards Tampere Tramway. The survey results will be used to support the development of the Tramway and related communications.
The target population consisted of people aged 15–75. The sample size of the Tampere survey was 500 respondents, and in Pirkkala, the sample size was 150 respondents. Quota sampling was used to ensure that respondents were distributed by area of residence (established tram-served area / new tram-served areas / rest of Tampere or Pirkkala), gender and age group.
The data was collected through computer-assisted telephone interviews conducted at IROResearch Ltd’s telephone interviewing centre. A sufficient sample of individuals meeting the target-group criteria was obtained from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency for the purpose of data collection. To support the selection of the register sample, the commissioning organisation provided IRO with a list of streets located within 800 metres of the tram line.
The first Tampere Tramway consumer survey was conducted in 2017. The survey was extended to Pirkkala in 2025. The survey will continue to be conducted annually.
Further information:
Pekka Sirviö
CEO
Tampere Tramway Ltd.
Tel. 040 334 5798
firstname.lastname@tampereenraitiotie.fi
Surveys in Finnish:
Tampereen Ratikan kuluttajatutkimus, lokakuu 2026
Tampereen Ratikan kuluttajatutkimus, lokakuu 2026: Pirkkala
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