Finland - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services: Difference between revisions
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==Deletions since previous edition== | ==Deletions since previous edition== | ||
{| class="dpetable3" | {| class="dpetable3" | ||
| | | FFI21/3 | ||
| | | Seinäjoki - Kaskinen | ||
| No evidence of | | No evidence of the excursion for the annual Herring Market in Kaskinen in 2021. The line will be maintained only until 31 December 2022 | ||
|} | |} | ||
Revision as of 12:15, 11 December 2021
Introduction
This list is based on the timetable period 16 August to 11 December 2021. Standard abbreviations are explained in General Information.
Map references for each route entry are given in parentheses ( ). References prefixed "ERA-E" refer to the European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition) by M.G. Ball. Template:Map Refs ERA-R-NO-SE-FI-DK
Obscure services
Tampere avoiding line: Lempäälä (Tampere Viinikka) – Orivesi (Tampere Järvensivu)
(ERA-E 6C3; ERA-R 10C5) FI21/1
This south to east curve links the Helsinki and Jyväskylä lines. On occasions when overnight trains to and from northern Finland are diverted via Haapamäki, because of engineering work on the main line via Parkano, they usually run via the avoiding line and reverse in and out of Tampere station. This is to avoid reversing the formation of the trains, particularly those carrying cars. Use of the avoiding line normally occurs between stops at Tampere and Seinäjoki. However such diversions are now very rare as the newer Edm sleeping cars need a generator van to power the heating and air conditioning on non-electrified lines. The generator vans are normally stationed in the north of the country for the sleeper services to Kolari.
Lahti – Salpausselkä
(ERA-E 7A3; ERA-R 10C5) FI21/2
A short branch from a triangular junction west of Lahti runs to this simple platform north of the main line from Helsinki, and is used by trains to special events at Lahti Urheilukeskus (a sports arena). Trains run direct from Helsinki for major Lahti Ski Games events which take place each winter (in 2017, specials certainly ran on 25 February and 4 March). Generally speaking, the branch sees several trains each year for significant events, most of which are open to the public. Information about trains to Salpausselkä is usually available from the event organisers and train operators, which are usually preservation societies or rail tour companies.
If the train comes directly from Helsinki or Riihimäki it uses the west curve. Conversely, if the train comes from the east or stops at Lahti station it uses the east curve. The branch is not electrified and has no loop, so locomotive hauled trains must either be propelled in one direction or have a second locomotive.
Seinäjoki - Kaskinen
(ERA-E 6B4-C4; ERA-R 5A1-A2) FI21/3
In recent years a day excursion operated by Haapamäki Museum Locomotive Society (HMVY) has run on this 112km branch in October for the annual Herring Market in Kaskinen. It ran in 2019, but not in 2020 no doubt because of the pandemic. The date and times have been on the Finnish Heritage Trains website in the past but this site seems to have been discontinued. The Network Statement states that the line will be maintained only until 31 December 2022, so it will presumably close after this date. If no use of this line is identified in 2021 this entry will be deleted at the end of the year.
Riihimäki avoiding line: Riihimäki Tavara - Riihimäki Arolampi
(ERA-E 7A2; ERA-R 10C4) FI21/4
This north <=> east curve links the Tampere and Lahti lines, bypassing Riihimäki station.
It was used in previous years by a Saturdays only train from Kouvola to Tampere and return. No train is shown in the current timetable.
Other freight lines
Occasional specials are operated over other lines - particularly in the summer - by preservation societies. An annual listing is produced by Resiina magazine and the Heritage Railway Association of Finland.
Trams
See Finland - Tram services over obscure routes
Other sparse services
The following lines have few trains (relative to service levels generally in this country) - fewer than four trains each way on at least three days a week - or do not run each weekday
| 1, 8 and 9 | Turku - Turku satama (harbour) |
| 7 | Rovaniemi - Kemijärvi |
| 7 | Kemi (Laurila) - Tornio - Kolari |
| 9 | Pieksämäki - Joensuu |
| 11 | (Haapamäki -) Keuruu - Jyvaskyla |
| 11 | Haapamäki - Ähtäri (- Seinäjoki) |
| 14 | Joensuu - Nurmes |
| 18 | Ilsalmi - Ylivieska |
Deletions since previous edition
| FFI21/3 | Seinäjoki - Kaskinen | No evidence of the excursion for the annual Herring Market in Kaskinen in 2021. The line will be maintained only until 31 December 2022 |
