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Finland Invests in Future Railway to Norway and Sweden
Finland has started planning a future railway connection stretching from northern Finland to Narvik in northern Norway. The project aims to change the Finnish track gauge to the Swedish and Norwegian standard, thereby connecting Finland closer to its neighboring countries.
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The Finnish government recently decided to start planning the Nordic railway, Rail Nordica, a railway network that aims to connect the railway track in northern parts of Finland directly to Sweden and Norway.
The project requires Finland to connect to Sweden's European track gauge standard. The track gauge on the Finnish railway network, often referred to as the Russian track gauge, is 90 mm wider than the European standard used in both Norway and Sweden.
Closer Nordic connections
This way, the railway network in the Cap of the North will be more closely connected with direct railway tracks, which could stretch from Northern Finland to the Port of Narvik in Northern Norway in the future.
The project's first phase involves a railway connection between the border city of Haparanda in Northern Sweden and Kemi in Northern Finland.
Extending the European track gauge from Sweden to Finland would ensure efficient rail transport services between the Nordic countries and connect Finland even more closely to the West, says the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Adapting to European standards has become more relevant with Sweden and Finland's entry into NATO. The project responds to needs in both NATO and EU guidelines (see fact box).
Military mobility and supply preparedness
Finland's Minister of Transport and Communications, Lulu Ranne (Finns Party), says the decision is historic.
"This is about more than just developing military mobility, which will improve Finland's supply security and play a key role in the total defense. This is a major project that will increase growth and employment," she says.
"I recently met my colleagues from Norway and Sweden in Helsinki. Although there are significant challenges also in the South, there is a large consensus that the major changes must come in the North. This is also about preparedness and the business sector," she says, and adds that the High North has great strategic significance from a foreign policy perspective.
"We will never again be in a situation where we can't get help into Finland or cannot get to Europe via railway," she also adds.
According to the newspaper, the minister expects the project to break ground at the beginning of the 2030s. Planning the project will take place until 2029.
First phase
The recent decision from the Finnish government includes 20 million euros for the planning project to expand the European track gauge into Finland.
The planning project for the first phase, the connection between Haparanda and Kemi, starts this year, according to the ministry.
The Rail Nordica railway from the Northern parts of Finland to Oulu is estimated to cost about 1.5 billion euros.
Good news for Narvik
Port Director at the Port of Narvik, Børge Edvardsen Klingan, says the Finnish decision is very good news for Northern Norway and Narvik in particular.
"This is a right and important decision from the Finnish government, which strengthens the interaction between Finland, Sweden, and Norway," he tells HNN.
"At the same time, this shows a clear priority of increased capacity on the railway between Finland and Narvik, as well as increased terminal capacity in Narvik. Furthermore, this facilitates increased cooperation between the countries on preparedness, business, and industry."
