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==National Railway System==
==National Railway System==
===National Railway Operator===
===National Railway Operator===
[http://www.vr.fi VR Oy (VR AB)]. This used to be the official abbreviation of Valtionrautatiet (= State railway), but is now the full company name.
[https://www.vr.fi VR Oy (VR AB)]. VR was the official abbreviation of Valtionrautatiet (= State railway), but is now the company's full name.


==Language==
==Language==
Line 17: Line 17:
==Timetable==
==Timetable==
===Journey Planner===
===Journey Planner===
[http://www.vr.fi/en/index/aikataulut.html www.vr.fi/en/index/aikataulut.html]
[https://www.vr.fi/cs/vr/en/long-distance_timetables Long-distance timetables]. For a journey ''now'' use “Timetable Search” at the top of the page; for a journey on a specific day/time use “Search Timetables” at the bottom of the page.
For a Journey on a specific day use “Search Timetables” at the bottom of this linked page and NOT “Timetable Search” at the top!


===Downloadable Timetable===
===Downloadable Timetable===
VR Timetables for long distance trains by route are available only in Finnish at [https://www.vr.fi/cs/vr/fi/kaukoliikenne Kaukoliikenteen aikataulut] web page. The [https://www.vr.fi/cs/vr/en/long-distance_timetables English version] gives only station departure lists in PDF format. A diagrammatic route map is available for [https://www.vr.fi/cs/vr/en/long-distance_service_network the Long-distance Service Network]. There is a link to the section for [https://www.vr.fi/cs/vr/en/commuter_service_timetables Helsinki suburban services], where there are station departure lists in PDF format, but not full timetables.
The timetable PDFs for long distance and regional services are available only in the Finnish version of the website.
 
[https://www.vr.fi/cs/vr/fi/juna-aikataulut Juna-aikataulut] : "Kaukoliikenteen aikataulut" gives a combined PDF of all long distance and regional services, using their long-established table numbers (as used in EGTRE), whereas "Asemakohtaiset aikataulut" leads to individual PDFs from a drop-down list of various routes or combinations of routes (table numbers are not given). A [https://www.vr.fi/cs/vr/en/long-distance_service_network diagrammatic route map] is available for the long distance and regional network.
 
[https://www.vr.fi/cs/vr/en/commuter_service_timetables Helsinki suburban timetables] : "Route timetables" leads to PDFs of suburban routes from a drop-down list, whereas "Station timetables" leads to PDFs of station departure lists from a drop-down list. A [https://www.hsl.fi/sites/default/files/uploads/hsl_lahijunaliikennelinjat_a3_paino.pdf diagrammatic route map] is available for the Helsinki suburban network.
 
Working timetable information, in graphical format, is available through the ''Julia'' website - go to [https://julia.dy.fi/timetables/graphical this page], select the required route section from the drop-down box, insert required date, and press the green ''Hae'' button.


===Printed Timetable===
===Printed Timetable===
VR Oy publishes four timetable booklets. Kaukoliikenne (in Finnish), Fjärrtrafik (in Swedish) and Rail Pocket Guide (in English) show all main line trains, plus outline details of the Helsinki suburban services. Lähiliikenne Närtrafik, which is bi-lingual Finnish and Swedish, gives full details of Helsinki suburban services. Suomen Kulkuneuvot (in Swedish Finlands Kommunikationer) is produced by Edita Oy, PL 800, 00043 Edita. It shows rail, bus, air and boat services throughout Finland and contains explanatory notes in Finnish, Swedish, English, French, German and Russian. It is not sold at railway stations, but can be purchased at large bookshops. In addition wallet size timetables of small groups of VR lines are available at main stations.
Pocket size timetables for ''other than'' suburban services are available at main stations but printed system timetables are no longer published.


===Engineering Information===
===Engineering Information===
Details on VR website at [https://www.vr.fi/cs/vr/en/track_work Track Work].    Details are also loaded against Journey searches from  [http://www.vr.fi/en/index/aikataulut/liikennetilanne/ratatyot.html www.vr.fi/en/index/aikataulut/liikennetilanne/ratatyot.html]
[https://www.vr.fi/cs/vr/en/track_work Track Work].     


==Maps==
==Maps==
Line 34: Line 39:
*[http://www.europeanrailwayatlas.com European Railway Atlas] by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)
*[http://www.europeanrailwayatlas.com European Railway Atlas] by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)
*Railways are depicted well in GT Tiekartasto Suomi-Finland, a road atlas with maps at 1:200,000 (1:400,000 north of Oulo).
*Railways are depicted well in GT Tiekartasto Suomi-Finland, a road atlas with maps at 1:200,000 (1:400,000 north of Oulo).
* Jussi Mäkinen's Järnvägshistorisk generalkarta över Finland, a railway map showing both current and historical lines in Finland, is available from [https://www.stenvalls.com/jarnvagar-railways/bocker/kartor/jarnvagshistorisk-generalkarta-over-finland Stenvalls bookshop] and also the Railway Museum in Hyvinkää.


===Web-based Maps===
===Web-based Maps===
Line 39: Line 45:


==Ticketing==
==Ticketing==
Very few stations have open ticket offices, the majority rely totally on ticket machines which have an English option and are straightforward to use. When purchasing for IC and Pendolino's the machines automatically include a Reservation in the price and allocated seat details are displayed on the ticket. Tickets can also be bought on the train, on rural lines through on board machines as there are no guards, or from on board staff on main lines, but these will be at a slightly higher fare from station machines. In advance on line purchases offer substantial discounts for printed or phone based tickets, again including seat Reservations. Note it is not Compulsory to have a Reserved seat to board an IC or Pendelino train if for example using an InterRail, but as seats are not marked as Reserved you may be asked to move.
Very few stations have open ticket offices, the majority rely totally on ticket machines which have an English option and are straightforward to use. When purchasing for InterCity and Pendolino journeys, the machines automatically include a Reservation in the price and allocated seat details are displayed on the ticket. Advance on-line purchases offer substantial discounts for printed or phone-based tickets - again including seat Reservations. It is not compulsory to have a reserved seat to board an IC or Pendelino train (for example, if using an InterRail ticket) but as seats are not physically marked as reserved you may be asked to move by a passenger holding a reservation.


A penalty fare system operates [€80 in 2016] on Helsinki suburban trains and on other services if Inspected and without a valid ticket. Some trains indicate Carriages in which tickets cannot be purchased by prominent signs on the outside.
Within the Helsinki suburban area, tickets must be purchased (or held) before boarding trains. Outside this area, tickets can also be bought on the train: on Regional trains on rural lines from on board machines where there are no guards, or on main lines from on board staff. However, such purchases will be at a slightly higher fare than from station machines. Cash is no longer accepted as payment; long distance tickets can be purchased from train conductors and railbus vending machines only with payment cards. On some trains, carriages in which tickets cannot be purchased are indicated  by prominent signs on the outside. A penalty fare system operates - a substantial penalty is charged in addition to the fare if a passenger is found without a valid ticket.


==Infrastructure==
==Infrastructure==
===Infrastructure Authority===
===Infrastructure Authority===
Ratahallintokeskus (in Swedish, Banförvaltningscentralen) was responsible for infrastructure but in early 2010 was merged with the Roads agency into [http://www.liikennevirasto.fi/ Liikennevirasto] (in Swedish, Trafikverket), the Finnish Transport Agency.
Ratahallintokeskus (in Swedish, Banförvaltningscentralen) was responsible for infrastructure but in early 2010 was merged with the Roads agency into Liikennevirasto (in Swedish, Trafikverket), the Finnish Transport Agency.
This was renamed and reorganised on 1 January 2019 into [https://vayla.fi/web/en Väylävirasto], the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency.


===Network Statement===
===Network Statement===
The Finnish Railway Network Statement can be downloaded from the [http://portal.liikennevirasto.fi/sivu/www/e/professionals/network_statement Network Statement, Railways] page.
[http://www.liikennevirasto.fi/web/en/commercial-railway-transport/network-statement Finnish Railway Network Statement].


===Gauge===
===Gauge===
Line 57: Line 64:


===Rule of the Road===
===Rule of the Road===
Right but most of the network is single-tracked and the Helsinki Airport Loop is left hand running. Double track lines are mostly equipped with bidirectional signaling. Unusually, on four-track lines the directions are '''↓↑↑↓''' - i.e. the right hand pair of lines is left-handed. From Pasila to Kerava the tracks are southbound fast; northbound fast; northbound local; southbound local. Similarly on the coast line (Pasila - Leppävaara): eastbound fast; westbound fast; westbound local - eastbound local.
Right hand running but most of the network is single-tracked, while the Helsinki Airport Loop is left hand running. Double track lines are mostly equipped with bidirectional signalling. Unusually, on four-track lines the directions are '''↓↑↑↓''' - i.e. the right hand pair of lines is left-handed. From Pasila to Kerava the tracks are southbound fast; northbound fast; northbound local; southbound local. Similarly on the coast line (Pasila - Leppävaara): eastbound fast; westbound fast; westbound local; eastbound local.


===Distances===
===Distances===
The 2016 Network Statement (see [[#Network Statement|Network Statement]]) gives overall distances for each section on p.64 onwards and detailed distances for each station from Helsinki in alphabetical order on pp 69 - 82.
The Network Statement (see [[#Network Statement|Network Statement]]) gives overall distances for each section (Appendix 1) and detailed distances for each station from Helsinki in alphabetical order (Appendix 2).
 
Distances for current operational locations are shown on the graphical working timetables available through the ''Julia'' website - go to [https://julia.dy.fi/timetables/graphical this page], select the required route from the drop down list (the date box is immaterial) and press the green ''Hae'' button. The milepost distances (in km) are down the left axis of the graph. Bear in mind that - in consequence of route relocations around the system - there are various short and long kms so the milepost distance may not represent today's actual travel distance.


==Other Railways==
==Other Railways==
Line 66: Line 75:


==Tourist Lines==
==Tourist Lines==
* Jokioisten Museorautatie: Humppila - Jokioinen (750 mm gauge)  
* [https://www.jokioistenmuseorautatie.fi/en/ Jokioisten Museorautatie]: Humppila - Jokioinen (750 mm gauge)  
* Nykarleby Jernvag operates a 600 mm gauge line at Kovjoki, along 2 km of the trackbed of the former VR Uusikaarlepyy branch.  
* [http://nykarlebyjernvag.webs.com/ Nykarleby Jernvag]: from Kovjoki, along 2 km of the trackbed of the former VR Uusikaarlepyy branch (600 mm gauge).  
* [http://www.porvoonmuseorautatie.fi/ Porvoon Museorautatie] is responsible for the 1524 mm gauge line between Olli and Porvoon keskusta, but operates diesel railcars through to Kerava and Helsinki.
* [http://www.porvoonmuseorautatie.fi/ Porvoon Museorautatie] is responsible for the line between Olli and Porvoo; they operate diesel railcar excursions through from Kerava and Helsinki on summer weekends (1524 mm gauge).
* [http://www.steamrail.fi/ Höyryraide Ay] works steam trains from Nurmes, mainly to Lieksa and Joensuu.
* [http://www.steamrail.fi/en/ Steamrail – Höyryraide Ay] operate occasional steam excursions from Nurmes (1524 mm  gauge).
There is a listing of Nordic narrow gauge tourist lines at the [http://www.scanrailsoc.org.uk/ng.html Scandinavian Railways Society] website.


Rail cycling is possible on a number of lines; see the [http://www.draisinenfahrten.de/index.html IG Draisinenfahrten website]. Click on 'International', followed by 'Draisinenlinks' to obtain website details under the heading 'Draisinenstrecken in Finnland (FI)'.
An annual listing is produced by ''Resiina'' magazine and the Heritage Railway Association of Finland, and available at the [http://heritagetrains.fi Heritage Trains] web page. This list includes specials operated over other VR lines in summer by preservation societies.
 
There is a listing of Finnish railway museums at the [http://www.scanrailsoc.org.uk/fin_guide.html Scandinavian Railways Society] website.
 
Rail cycling is available between [http://www.pomarkku.fi/elamysrautatie/  Pori and Kankaanpää].


==Metro==
==Metro==
[https://www.hsl.fi/en/timetables-and-routes Helsinki]  14 km westward extension to Matinkylä is due to open in August 2016.
 
[https://www.hsl.fi/en/timetables-and-routes Helsinki]. A 14 km westward extension to Matinkylä opened on 18 November 2017 (see their [https://www.hsl.fi/en/west-metro/metro webpage]).


==Trams==
==Trams==
[https://www.hsl.fi/en/timetables-and-routes Helsinki]
[https://www.hsl.fi/en/timetables-and-routes/routemaps Helsinki]. There were significant changes to some routes from 14 August 2017 - see details [https://www.hsl.fi/en/new-tram-routes-2017/new-routes-and-maps here].


A track plan for the Helsinki tram system is available on the [http://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site].
A track plan for the Helsinki tram system is available on the [http://www.gleisplanweb.eu/index-e.php Gleisplanweb site].


See also [[Finland_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Finland - Tram services over obscure routes]]
See also [[Finland_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Finland - Tram services over obscure routes]]


==Recent and Future Changes==
==Recent and Future Changes==
Following lines are scheduled to close from 10 December 2016. The Ministry of Transport postponed the closures from 27 March 2016 in connection with opening up the rail sector to competition.
In September 2019 the government provided the finance to establish new companies to manage the development of the proposed Helsinki – Turku and Riihimäki – Tampere high speed rail projects.
 
<!--- In March 2018 Finland and Norway chose Rovaniemi to Kirkenes (near the Russian border) as the best route for the potential Arctic rail link from northern Finland to the Barents Sea coast. Further studies will now take place, to be completed in December 2018.--->
 
Following four sections of line were scheduled to close from 27 March 2016. However, the Ministry of Transport postponed the closures pending decisions on the possible opening up the passenger rail sector to competition, so the lines remain open until further notice (they are shown in the timetables operating until at least December 2019):


{| width="100%"
{| width="100%"
Line 91: Line 108:
| Orivesi - Haapamäki  
| Orivesi - Haapamäki  
|-
|-
| 14A
| 11
| Jyväskylä – Haapamäki – Seinäjoki
|-
| 14
| Joensuu – Nurmes
| Joensuu – Nurmes
|-
|-
| 17 (part)
| 17
| Joensuu - Viinijärvi - Varkaus
| Joensuu - Viinijärvi - Varkaus
|-
| 17 (part)
| Jyväskylä – Haapamäki – Seinäjoki
|}
|}


Following the signing in January 2016 of the Finnish-Estonian Transport Link memorandum of understanding, the viability of building a 92 km rail tunnel under the Gulf of Finland between Helsinki and Tallinn is to be assessed.
The line north from Seinojaki to Oulu is being doubled with parts in use by 2017. The freight line to the Russian border at Vartius and others to Pietarsaar and Talvivaara have been electrified, and Jyväskylä - Äänekoski was being electrified in 2016.
 
Following the signing in January 2016 of the Finnish-Estonian Transport Link memorandum of understanding, two consortia were appointed in February 2017 to study the feasibility of the FinEst Link proposal to build a 92 km under-sea tunnel between Helsinki and Tallinn. The Feasibility Study – Final report was presented in February 2018, but it is not clear what the next step will be.
 
The 18 km Helsinki ''Kehärata'' Ring Line (Vantaankoski - Helsinki-Vantaa Airport - Hiekkaharju) opened on 1 July 2015 (see routes I and P on [https://www.hsl.fi/sites/default/files/uploads/hsl_lahijunaliikennelinjat_a3_paino.pdf schematic route plan]).
 
The last train ferry connecting with Sweden, between Turku and Stockholm Värtan, closed on 31 December 2011.


The 18 km Helsinki ''Kehärata'' Ring Line [Vantaankoski - Helsinki-Vantaa Airport - Hiekkaharju (- Tikkurila)] opened on 1 July 2015.
''Allegro'' high-speed trainsets  were introduced in December 2010 on the two daytime services between Helsinki and St Petersburg, cutting the journey time from six to 3½ hours.


The last train ferry connecting with Sweden, Turku - Stockholm Värtan, closed on 31 December 2011.
The Kemijärvi - Kelloselka line closed after the last freight ran on 28 July 2010.


Allegro high-speed trainsets  were introduced in December 2010 on the 2 daytime services between Helsinki and St Petersburg, cutting the journey time from six hours to three and a half.
A new 19 km freight-only line from Savio, south of Kerava on the main Helsinki-Tampere line, to the harbour at Vuosaari in eastern Helsinki, started operating in November 2008.


A new 19 km freight-only line has been opened from Savio, south of Kerava on the main Helsinki-Tampere line, to the harbour at Vuosaari in eastern Helsinki, which started operation in November 2008.
A high speed line from Kerava to Lahti - a short cut from Helsinki towards the east and St Petersburg - opened to passengers on 3
September 2006.


A high speed line from Kerava to Lahti, a short cut from Helsinki towards the east and St Petersburg, opened to passengers on 3 September 2006.
Electrification from Oulu to Rovaniemi was completed in December 2004 and from Iisalmi to Oulu in December 2006.


Upgrading of the Helsinki - Turku line was completed in 1993. The Pönttövuori tunnel, between Jyväskylä and Lievestuore, came into use in 1995 in connection with electrification from Jyväskylä to Pieksämäki. Extensive work has been carried out on the main line between Helsinki and Tampere, a major new alignment at Lempääla coming into use in 2002. Electrification from Oulu to Rovaniemi was completed in December 2004 and from Iisalmi to Oulu in December 2006. The line north from Seinojaki to Oulu is being doubled with parts already in use in 2016, the freight line to the Russian border at Vartius and others to Pietarsaar and Talvivaara have been electrified, and from Jyväskylä - Äänekoski is being electrified as at 2016 according to the 2017 Network Statement.  
Extensive work has been carried out on the main line between Helsinki and Tampere, a major new alignment at Lempääla coming into use in 2002.


A new 1524 mm gauge line was planned jointly by a Canadian mining company and the Swedish railways to link new iron ore mines at Kaunisvaara in Sweden (about 20 km WNW of Kolari) with the VR line to Kolari. However this has now been abandoned in favour of road transport to Svappavaara, south east of Kiruna.
The Pönttövuori tunnel, between Jyväskylä and Lievestuore, came into use in 1995 in connection with electrification from Jyväskylä to Pieksämäki.


==Special notes==
==Special notes==
The spelling of proper names in Finnish varies according to grammatical case. The name of the Finnish capital is Helsinki, but this appears as Helsingistä (from Helsinki), Helsinkiin (to Helsinki), Helsingin (Helsinki's) and in Helsingissä (in Helsinki), as well as Helsingfors in Swedish. Many towns have names in both Finnish and Swedish, eg: Oulu - Uleåborg, Pori - Bjorneborg, Tampere - Tammerfors etc.
The spelling of proper names in Finnish varies according to grammatical case. The name of the Finnish capital is Helsinki, but this appears as Helsingistä (from Helsinki), Helsinkiin (to Helsinki), Helsingin (Helsinki's) and in Helsingissä (in Helsinki), as well as Helsingfors in Swedish. Many towns have names in both Finnish and Swedish, eg: Oulu - Uleåborg, Pori - Bjorneborg, Tampere - Tammerfors  


Long distance trains also include special areas to be used by those travelling with dogs or other animals. IC and IC2 trains have compartments for passengers suffering from allergies. All parts of Pendolino trains are stated to be designed for passengers with allergies, except for the carriage where animals are permitted.
Long distance trains also include special areas to be used by those travelling with dogs or other animals. IC and IC2 trains have compartments for passengers suffering from allergies. All parts of Pendolino trains are stated to be designed for passengers with allergies, except for the carriage where animals are permitted.


<!---
The following lines are closed to all traffic:
The following lines are closed to all traffic:
*Aittaluoto - Parkano
*Aittaluoto - Parkano
Line 129: Line 154:
*Niesa – Rautuvaara
*Niesa – Rautuvaara
*Kiukainen – Säkylä
*Kiukainen – Säkylä
--->


==See also==
==See also==
{{Navbox Finland}}
{{Navbox Finland}}

Revision as of 21:08, 8 January 2020

Country Name

Finland (Suomi)

National Railway System

National Railway Operator

VR Oy (VR AB). VR was the official abbreviation of Valtionrautatiet (= State railway), but is now the company's full name.

Language

Finnish and Swedish are both official languages of Finland. Swedish is the first language of only 6% of the population, who live mainly in the south and west. Many public notices and signs are in both languages. In towns where the Swedish place name is used, the Finnish version is almost always shown as well.

Currency

Euro

UIC code

numeric 10; alpha FIN. This is shown on all new vehicles and is slowly being added onto existing VR rolling stock which was previously not numbered according to the UIC system.

Timetable

Journey Planner

Long-distance timetables. For a journey now use “Timetable Search” at the top of the page; for a journey on a specific day/time use “Search Timetables” at the bottom of the page.

Downloadable Timetable

The timetable PDFs for long distance and regional services are available only in the Finnish version of the website.

Juna-aikataulut : "Kaukoliikenteen aikataulut" gives a combined PDF of all long distance and regional services, using their long-established table numbers (as used in EGTRE), whereas "Asemakohtaiset aikataulut" leads to individual PDFs from a drop-down list of various routes or combinations of routes (table numbers are not given). A diagrammatic route map is available for the long distance and regional network.

Helsinki suburban timetables : "Route timetables" leads to PDFs of suburban routes from a drop-down list, whereas "Station timetables" leads to PDFs of station departure lists from a drop-down list. A diagrammatic route map is available for the Helsinki suburban network.

Working timetable information, in graphical format, is available through the Julia website - go to this page, select the required route section from the drop-down box, insert required date, and press the green Hae button.

Printed Timetable

Pocket size timetables for other than suburban services are available at main stations but printed system timetables are no longer published.

Engineering Information

Track Work.

Maps

Printed Maps

  • European Railway Atlas: Scandinavia and Eastern Europe by M.G. Ball (1993) (ISBN 0-7110-2072-4)
  • European Railway Atlas by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)
  • Railways are depicted well in GT Tiekartasto Suomi-Finland, a road atlas with maps at 1:200,000 (1:400,000 north of Oulo).
  • Jussi Mäkinen's Järnvägshistorisk generalkarta över Finland, a railway map showing both current and historical lines in Finland, is available from Stenvalls bookshop and also the Railway Museum in Hyvinkää.

Web-based Maps

Ticketing

Very few stations have open ticket offices, the majority rely totally on ticket machines which have an English option and are straightforward to use. When purchasing for InterCity and Pendolino journeys, the machines automatically include a Reservation in the price and allocated seat details are displayed on the ticket. Advance on-line purchases offer substantial discounts for printed or phone-based tickets - again including seat Reservations. It is not compulsory to have a reserved seat to board an IC or Pendelino train (for example, if using an InterRail ticket) but as seats are not physically marked as reserved you may be asked to move by a passenger holding a reservation.

Within the Helsinki suburban area, tickets must be purchased (or held) before boarding trains. Outside this area, tickets can also be bought on the train: on Regional trains on rural lines from on board machines where there are no guards, or on main lines from on board staff. However, such purchases will be at a slightly higher fare than from station machines. Cash is no longer accepted as payment; long distance tickets can be purchased from train conductors and railbus vending machines only with payment cards. On some trains, carriages in which tickets cannot be purchased are indicated by prominent signs on the outside. A penalty fare system operates - a substantial penalty is charged in addition to the fare if a passenger is found without a valid ticket.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Authority

Ratahallintokeskus (in Swedish, Banförvaltningscentralen) was responsible for infrastructure but in early 2010 was merged with the Roads agency into Liikennevirasto (in Swedish, Trafikverket), the Finnish Transport Agency. This was renamed and reorganised on 1 January 2019 into Väylävirasto, the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency.

Network Statement

Finnish Railway Network Statement.

Gauge

1524 mm. There are 1435 mm gauge lines at Turku, Uusikaupunki, and Hanko, which were used in connection with the train ferries there. None of these lines is now in operation as the last train ferry, at Turku, closed 31 December 2011.

Electrification

25kV 50Hz

Rule of the Road

Right hand running but most of the network is single-tracked, while the Helsinki Airport Loop is left hand running. Double track lines are mostly equipped with bidirectional signalling. Unusually, on four-track lines the directions are ↓↑↑↓ - i.e. the right hand pair of lines is left-handed. From Pasila to Kerava the tracks are southbound fast; northbound fast; northbound local; southbound local. Similarly on the coast line (Pasila - Leppävaara): eastbound fast; westbound fast; westbound local; eastbound local.

Distances

The Network Statement (see Network Statement) gives overall distances for each section (Appendix 1) and detailed distances for each station from Helsinki in alphabetical order (Appendix 2).

Distances for current operational locations are shown on the graphical working timetables available through the Julia website - go to this page, select the required route from the drop down list (the date box is immaterial) and press the green Hae button. The milepost distances (in km) are down the left axis of the graph. Bear in mind that - in consequence of route relocations around the system - there are various short and long kms so the milepost distance may not represent today's actual travel distance.

Other Railways

Karhulan - Sunnilan rautatie (a freight line near Kotka)

Tourist Lines

  • Jokioisten Museorautatie: Humppila - Jokioinen (750 mm gauge)
  • Nykarleby Jernvag: from Kovjoki, along 2 km of the trackbed of the former VR Uusikaarlepyy branch (600 mm gauge).
  • Porvoon Museorautatie is responsible for the line between Olli and Porvoo; they operate diesel railcar excursions through from Kerava and Helsinki on summer weekends (1524 mm gauge).
  • Steamrail – Höyryraide Ay operate occasional steam excursions from Nurmes (1524 mm gauge).

An annual listing is produced by Resiina magazine and the Heritage Railway Association of Finland, and available at the Heritage Trains web page. This list includes specials operated over other VR lines in summer by preservation societies.

There is a listing of Finnish railway museums at the Scandinavian Railways Society website.

Rail cycling is available between Pori and Kankaanpää.

Metro

Helsinki. A 14 km westward extension to Matinkylä opened on 18 November 2017 (see their webpage).

Trams

Helsinki. There were significant changes to some routes from 14 August 2017 - see details here.

A track plan for the Helsinki tram system is available on the Gleisplanweb site.

See also Finland - Tram services over obscure routes

Recent and Future Changes

In September 2019 the government provided the finance to establish new companies to manage the development of the proposed Helsinki – Turku and Riihimäki – Tampere high speed rail projects.


Following four sections of line were scheduled to close from 27 March 2016. However, the Ministry of Transport postponed the closures pending decisions on the possible opening up the passenger rail sector to competition, so the lines remain open until further notice (they are shown in the timetables operating until at least December 2019):

11 Orivesi - Haapamäki
11 Jyväskylä – Haapamäki – Seinäjoki
14 Joensuu – Nurmes
17 Joensuu - Viinijärvi - Varkaus

The line north from Seinojaki to Oulu is being doubled with parts in use by 2017. The freight line to the Russian border at Vartius and others to Pietarsaar and Talvivaara have been electrified, and Jyväskylä - Äänekoski was being electrified in 2016.

Following the signing in January 2016 of the Finnish-Estonian Transport Link memorandum of understanding, two consortia were appointed in February 2017 to study the feasibility of the FinEst Link proposal to build a 92 km under-sea tunnel between Helsinki and Tallinn. The Feasibility Study – Final report was presented in February 2018, but it is not clear what the next step will be.

The 18 km Helsinki Kehärata Ring Line (Vantaankoski - Helsinki-Vantaa Airport - Hiekkaharju) opened on 1 July 2015 (see routes I and P on schematic route plan).

The last train ferry connecting with Sweden, between Turku and Stockholm Värtan, closed on 31 December 2011.

Allegro high-speed trainsets were introduced in December 2010 on the two daytime services between Helsinki and St Petersburg, cutting the journey time from six to 3½ hours.

The Kemijärvi - Kelloselka line closed after the last freight ran on 28 July 2010.

A new 19 km freight-only line from Savio, south of Kerava on the main Helsinki-Tampere line, to the harbour at Vuosaari in eastern Helsinki, started operating in November 2008.

A high speed line from Kerava to Lahti - a short cut from Helsinki towards the east and St Petersburg - opened to passengers on 3 September 2006.

Electrification from Oulu to Rovaniemi was completed in December 2004 and from Iisalmi to Oulu in December 2006.

Extensive work has been carried out on the main line between Helsinki and Tampere, a major new alignment at Lempääla coming into use in 2002.

The Pönttövuori tunnel, between Jyväskylä and Lievestuore, came into use in 1995 in connection with electrification from Jyväskylä to Pieksämäki.

Special notes

The spelling of proper names in Finnish varies according to grammatical case. The name of the Finnish capital is Helsinki, but this appears as Helsingistä (from Helsinki), Helsinkiin (to Helsinki), Helsingin (Helsinki's) and in Helsingissä (in Helsinki), as well as Helsingfors in Swedish. Many towns have names in both Finnish and Swedish, eg: Oulu - Uleåborg, Pori - Bjorneborg, Tampere - Tammerfors

Long distance trains also include special areas to be used by those travelling with dogs or other animals. IC and IC2 trains have compartments for passengers suffering from allergies. All parts of Pendolino trains are stated to be designed for passengers with allergies, except for the carriage where animals are permitted.


See also