Finland‘s railway network has long reflected the country’s geography, climate and strategic location. Stretching from the Baltic Sea to well beyond the Arctic Circle, it connects cities, remote communities and major industrial regions across one of Europe’s least densely populated countries.
Today, the network is undergoing one of the most significant periods of change in its history, with ambitious plans aimed at bringing Finland even closer to the rest of Europe’s rail system.
A railway built for distance
The first railway in Finland opened on 31 January 1862 between Helsinki and Hämeenlinna. Today, the network extends for almost 6,000 kilometres, with around 90% consisting of single-track lines. Despite Finland’s relatively small population, the railway plays a vital role in connecting a country where forests cover much of the landscape and long distances separate towns and cities. The busiest routes are concentrated in southern Finland around Helsinki, while two railway lines continue north across the Arctic Circle to Kolari and Kemijärvi, providing essential transport links into Finnish Lapland. Freight traffic remains equally important, particularly for the country’s forestry and heavy industries.
A unique railway gauge
One distinctive feature of Finland‘s railway network is its track gauge of 1,524 mm, inherited from the period when the country formed part of the Russian Empire. For many years, converting to the European standard gauge (1,435 mm) was considered too costly and technically challenging. However, changing security priorities and the desire for stronger integration with the European transport network have brought the idea back to the forefront. In 2025, the Finnish government announced plans to begin the transition towards the European gauge, with decisions expected by 2027 and construction potentially beginning north of Oulu during the next decade. This would improve interoperability with neighbouring countries and strengthen Finland‘s role within the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
Modernisation over maximum speed
Rather than focusing solely on high-speed rail, Finland has prioritised reliability, capacity and resilience. Passenger trains currently reach speeds of up to 220 km/h on the Kerava–Lahti line, while freight trains operate at up to 120 km/h. Meanwhile, Finland is gradually replacing its national signalling system with the European ERTMS/ETCS Level 2 standard through the Digirail programme, which aims for nationwide implementation by 2040.
Trains designed for Arctic conditions
Operating in temperatures that can fall below -40°C requires specialised rolling stock capable of handling snow, ice and extreme cold. Trains that combine modern passenger comfort with engineering specifically adapted for Nordic winters, such as Siemens Vectron Sr3 electric locomotives, Stadler Dr19 diesel locomotives (for non-electrified routes), Pendolino Sm3 trains (connecting Finland’s largest cities), and Stadler FLIRT commuter trains (serving the Helsinki metropolitan area). Throughout 2026, VR is also introducing a new generation of FLIRT commuter trains featuring improved accessibility, greater energy efficiency and enhanced passenger amenities.
Strengthening international connections
Cross-border rail transport is becoming increasingly important. The recently upgraded and electrified Tornio–Haparanda railway strengthens the connection between Finland and Sweden, with passenger services returning after an absence of several decades. Meanwhile, rail passenger services between Finland and Russia have remained suspended since 2022.
Looking ahead
Several major infrastructure projects could reshape Finnish rail travel over the coming decades. Among the most significant are the planned high-speed connection between Helsinki and Turku, upgrades to the Helsinki–Tampere corridor, the new Eastern Railway linking Helsinki with eastern Finland, and the proposed Arctic Rail corridor connecting Finland with Narvik in northern Norway via Sweden. Longer-term proposals als.o include an undersea rail tunnel between Helsinki and Tallinn, creating a direct fixed rail connection between Finland and the Rail Baltica network. While many of these projects remain in the planning stage, they demonstrate Finland’s determination to modernise its railway network while reinforcing its position as a key transport gateway between the Nordic region and continental Europe.
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