European route E12
European route E12 is a road that is part of the International E-road network. It begins in Mo i Rana, Norway, transverses Sweden and ends in Helsinki, Finland, with a ferry line between Sweden and Finland. The part within Finland is Finnish national highway 3. The road is about 910 km (570 mi) in length.
Route information | |
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Length | 910 km (570 mi) |
Major junctions | |
North-West end | Mo i Rana, Norway |
South-East end | Helsinki, Finland |
Location | |
Countries | |
Highway system | |
International E-road network |
The road follows the route: Mo i Rana – Storuman, Sweden – Lycksele, Sweden – Umeå, Sweden – Holmsund, Sweden – (ferry) – Vaasa, Finland – Tampere, Finland – Hämeenlinna, Finland – Helsinki.
The ferry line has one departure per day. It risks being cancelled because a commercial company operates it, and it is unprofitable because of low passenger figures. There is no government support, only domestic connections can get it, since it is a principle especially in Sweden that international travel should not be supported by taxpayers. However, the city of Vaasa supports the ferry route.
The Kvarken Bridge between Vaasa and Umeå has been planned for decades, along which the E12 could continue without ferry connections.[1]
Blue Highway
The European route E12 from Mo i Rana to Vaasa is part of the Blue Highway, which is an international tourist route from Norway to Russia via Sweden and Finland.