SpåraKoff

SpåraKoff is a HM V type tram converted into a mobile bar in Helsinki, Finland. Known as the pub tram, the vehicle does circular tours of downtown Helsinki picking up passengers for a fee during summer months. It is operated jointly by Sinebrychoff, HOK-Elanto (part of the S Group), and Helsinki City Transport.[1]

SpåraKoff
SpåraKoff departing from Railway Square
SpåraKoff is located in Helsinki (mainland)
SpåraKoff
Location within Helsinki (mainland)
Restaurant information
EstablishedApril 30, 1995 (1995-04-30)
Owner(s)Sinebrychoff, HOK-Elanto, HKL
CityHelsinki
CountryFinland
Coordinates60.1710187°N 24.9450463°E / 60.1710187; 24.9450463
Seating capacity24 seats
6 standing places
ReservationsAvailable

The pub tram is immediately distinguishable in the Helsinki traffic by its vivid red colour (as opposed to the normal colours, green and cream, used on the Helsinki tram network of the Helsinki City Transport), and by the destination board that reads "PUB".

It is one of the four HM V trams that remain operational in Helsinki. Two of them are museum trams, and one is used as a non-passenger carrying advertisement tram.[2]

SpåraKoff Tram Pub, awaiting passengers at the Mikonkatu terminus stop at the Helsinki Railway Square

Etymology

The name "SpåraKoff" is a combination of spåra ("tram", in Helsinki slang,[3] from the Swedish word spårvagn "tram")[lower-roman 1] and the beer brand "Koff", produced by the Sinebrychoff Brewery — the oldest brewery in Scandinavia and one of the largest in Finland.[4]

History

The SpåraKoff was remodelled from an old HM V tram in 1995, to commemorate the 175th anniversary of Sinebrychoff. HM V number 15 was selected as the tram to be converted, and it was renumbered no. 175 in honour of the anniversary. The SpåraKoff started its operation on Walpurgis night's eve, 1995.

The SpåraKoff has an area of 20 square metres (220 sq ft). It has seats for 24 customers, a counter and a lavatory. The lavatory is so small it had to be ordered from a company that builds cabins for cruise ships. The remodelling was done by Helsinki City Transport. Originally the SpåraKoff was only supposed to be in operation for two years, but it turned out to be so popular that it continues its operations today. When it started, it was the only one of its kind in the world.[5]

Operation

In 2015, the SpåraKoff operates from 4 May to 5 September. A tour ("pub crawl") takes approximately 40 minutes, travelling from the Helsinki Railway Square to Kallio, Töölö, and the Market Square, while its passengers enjoy their drinks. The route has the following stops: Rautatientori, Linnanmäki, Oopperatalo, Aleksanterinkatu and Kauppatori.[6] In addition to running its scheduled public tours, the tram is available to operate charter services.[7]

According to The Guardian, the SpåraKoff's seats are not comfortable, but its scheduled route covers most of Helsinki's usual sights, its drinks are reasonably priced, and there is no irritating commentary. Most of the drinks served on board are either beer or Lonkero, a recommended "long drink" made from gin and grapefruit soda; there is also a frequently changing wine list.[8]

Technical information
Inside the SpåraKoff pub tram
Inside the SpåraKoff pub tram

The tram has two bogies and was originally constructed in 1959. The conversion for pub use (including the addition of a toilet) was carried out in 1995.[9]

  • Width: 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in), height: 3.6 metres (11 ft 10 in)
  • Track gauge: 1 metre (3.3 ft)
  • Total mass: 20 tonnes (44,000 lb)
  • Top speed: 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph)
  • Acceleration: 12.6 s (0–50 km/h)
  • Capacity: 24 seats, 6 standing places, one flush toilet (WC)
  • Beer serving capacity: ca. 500 pints per filling

The tram is staffed by one driver and one bartender serving customers.

SpåraKoff in Taiwan

A copy of SpåraKoff, converted from an abandoned HKL 23 tram, was shown at the Taipei Expo exhibition in Taiwan from November to December 2000 for nine days at the Finnish pavilion. The interior of the tram ran computer simulators showing a view of Virtual Finland. Thus tram visitors could feel like they were on a tram cruise in Helsinki. The interior also included tables, benches and a bar. The tram was converted to this use in Taipei. After the exhibition the tram remained in Taiwan, making it the only tram in the country,[10] until a light rail system was opened in Kaohsiung in 2016.[11]

See also

Notes
  1. Although the letter å is part of the Finnish alphabet, native Finnish does not use it, and in commonly used Helsinki slang, the word for "tram" is spelled spora. However, the official spelling of SpåraKoff's name retains the å from the original Swedish word spårvagn.

References
  1. Kimmo Lundén (2014-11-24). "Miten niin pilkku-Suomi? "SpåraKoff säilyy!"" (in Finnish). Talouselämä. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  2. "HKL: Motor trams 1 – 15 (1959)" (in Finnish and English). Finnish Tramway Society. Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  3. Heikki and Marjatta Paunonen (2000). Tsennaaks Stadii, bonjaaks slangii. Stadin slangin suursanakirja. Helsinki: WSOY. p. 1078. ISBN 951-0-23239-4.
  4. Ari Lindholm (2007-07-26). "Suomalaisten suurpanimojen historia" [History of the large breweries in Finland]. lindholm-fi.net (in Finnish). Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  5. Kaisu Moilanen (2015-05-07). "Spårakoffista tuli heti nähtävyys" [Spårakoff became instantly a sight to see]. Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Helsinki: Sanoma. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  6. Tom Heino. "Ravintolaraitiovaunu Spårakoff - HKL 175". Suomen Raitiotieseura ry. Archived from the original on 2008-05-18.
  7. Rice, Walter; Rauhala, Jorma (September 2002). "Helsinki: Expansion is on the horizon". Tramways & Urban Transit. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  8. Guardian readers (24 March 2022). "'The seats aren't comfy but you've got a beer': readers' favourite tram rides". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  9. "SpåraKoff" (in Finnish). Virgin Oil Co. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  10. HKL:n neliakselinen moottorivaunu. tyyppi RM3, numero 23, Finnish tram society 18 May 2015. Accessed on 17 June 2020.
  11. 領先全台 高雄輕軌4日正式通車, Newtalk. Accessed on 20 June 2020. (in Chinese)
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