The Ministry of Transport and Communications has decided that a railway link to the Arctic Ocean via Oulu, Rovaniemi and Kirkenes will be examined further. The benefits of the route would include improving Finland’s logistical position, accessibility and security of supply. Of the two leading alternatives, the route via Kirkenes was also less expensive.

Last July, the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications commissioned the Transport Agency to carry out a study on the Arctic rail line together with the Norwegian transport authorities. The Transport Agency assessed the implementation and financial feasibility of five different route alternatives.

“All the alternatives are technically feasible. However, there was a lot of variation in terms of financial aspects and environmental impacts,” said Director Matti Levomäki from the Transport Agency.

The examined route alternatives were Tornio-Narvik, Kolari-Narvik, Kolari-Tromsø, Rovaniemi-Kirkenes and Kemijärvi-Alakurtti-Murmansk. One alternative based on the use of High Capacity Transport vehicles was also examined.

(Source: FTA)