For general information and definition of terms, refer to the main Border Crossings document.
For a full alphabetical list of countries go to here.
Go direct to border crossing information between Finland and Norway - Russia - Sweden.
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No rail routes.
Last update: 5 August 2006.
All rail routes between this pair of countries are 1520mm gauge.
(Kemijärvi -) Kelloselkä VR - Alakurti RˇD: [D] This line, opened as part of Finnish war reparations to Russia, may never have carried any through traffic. It has long been out of use east of Kelloselkä, though track still remains in place from there towards the Russian border beyond which the line is partially lifted. In 2006 the last remaining traffic (timber) on the section of line between Isokylä (just east of Kemijärvi) and Kelloselkä ceased. RHK (Finnish equivalent of Network Rail) have now mothballed the entire line east of Isokylä pending a decision to be made in conjunction with Russian and Swedish authorities on a possible reopening as part of a through route to cater for the predicted vast increase in container traffic from China to America’s west coast via train through Russia, Finland and Sweden to Norway for transferring to ships.
(Kontiomäki -) Vartius VR - Kostomuksha RˇD: [D] Freight only. Most of it is iron-ore pellets from a mine/processing plant at Kostomuksa (some 30 km inside Russia) which go to the steel works at Raahe and also to the port of Kokkola for export. On the Russian side a new line 126 km long opened in 2001 from Ledmozero to Kotshkoma considerably reduced the distance from Vartius to the Archangel area of Russia. It was hoped this would lead to a significant increase in traffic. However due to a lack of funds signalling and telecommunication works on the line were never completed severely restricting its capacity. The line from Vartius to Kontiomäki will be electrified by the end of 2006 along with the line from Oulu via Kontiomäki to Iisalmi. It is hoped to extend electrification all the way to Kotshkoma in the long term.
Niirala VR - Vyartsilya RˇD: [D] Freight only. Mainly used to import raw timber to Finland: this amounted to 2.5 million tonnes last year.
Parikkala VR - Elisenvarra RˇD: [D] The tracks have been lifted across the border.
Imatrankoski VR - Svetogorsk RˇD: [D] Freight only, but see Obscure Service FI03/2. Mainly used to import raw timber and wood products to Finland, which amounted to 2.6 million tonnes in 2000.
(Kouvola -) Vainikkala VR - Luzhaika RˇD (- Sankt Peterburg): [E*] RˇD dual-system electric locos (3kV dc/25kV 50Hz) work into Finland. There are 3 passenger trains a day in each direction. Last year 7.7 million tonnes of freight mainly, raw wood, oil, gas and fertiliser crossed the border into Finland. 550,000 tonnes passed the other way mainly construction materials, farm machinery and consumer goods. Out of all this 2.5 million tonnes of freight go directly to and from Finnish Sea ports for export and import to from other countries.
Last update: 2 July 2006.
Tornio/Torneå VR - Haparanda BV: [D] Freight only. A single Swedish 1435mm gauge track extends to Tornio and a Finnish 1524mm gauge track to Haparanda. The two lines are interlaced across the border bridge. Standard gauge trains to Tornio yard mainly convey containers, which are transferred to Finnish wagons. Broad gauge trains to Haparanda yard are mainly vans whose contents are transhipped to standard gauge vans. A Talgo gauge changer was tested at Haparanda but now seems to be out of use (to keep it operational in winter de-icing sprays were necessary). At Tornio a German DB/Rafil gauge changer is now in small-scale commercial use. There are also facilities for changing wagon bogies here. A study is underway to rationalize the two yards to just one. There is a plan to upgrade Boden - Morjärv - Kalix, build a new line Kalix - Haparanda, and close Morjärv - Karungi - Haparanda; this route would be electrified.
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