Helsinki has decided to abolish car traffic on Kaivokatu, the street in front of the city's central train station. That is part of plans to transform the heart of the capital into a pedestrian district.

The central traffic route between the east and west sides of the city will be closed and replaced with trees, outdoor cafés and two new tram tracks.

The changes will be implemented gradually between now and the early 2030s.

The Helsinki City Council decided to remove vehicle traffic from Kaivokatu after a two-hour debate on Wednesday evening.

The plan was approved by an overwhelming margin of 77–5. Only four Finns Party councillors and one Christian Democrat voted against it, arguing that it would infringe on motorists' rights, among other issues.

The immediate vicinity of the railway station is Finland's most urban zone, with some 200,000 people passing through it daily.

Helsinki Mayor Daniel Sazonov told Yle that the plan includes nearby provisions for cars dropping people off at the station and parking underground, as well as taxis and maintenance vehicles.

He said most of the Kaivokatu traffic would be redirected to Esplanadi as well as routes further north of the city centre.

The decision also involves a reorganisation of port traffic, with more traffic being directed to the West Port and to the ring roads via the port tunnel.

The overhaul is expected to cost the city 26 million euros, along with approximately 15 million more for new tram lines and municipal engineering.