Arctic Railway

The Arctic Railway (also Arctic Ocean Railway)[1] is a planned railway line linking the Norwegian Arctic port of Kirkenes with the Finnish railway network.

Arctic Railway
Proposed rail routes into Lapland
Overview
LocaleLapland, Finland
Finnmark, Norway
TerminiRovaniemi
Kirkenes
ServicesRovaniemi - Vuojärvi - Sodankylä -
Petkula - Vuotso - Saariselkä -
Nellim - Rayakoski - Nikel - Kirkenes
Technical
Line length526 km (327 mi)
Number of tracksDouble track
Track gauge1,524 mm (5 ft)
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead lines
Arctic Railway
to Oulu
 Rovaniemi
to Kandalaksha via Kemijärvi
 Vuojärvi
to Kemijärvi
 Sodankylä
to Kolari
 Petkula
 Vuotso
 Saariselkä
to Lakselv via Inari and Utsjoki
 Nellim
Finland
Russia
border
 Rayakoski
 Nikel
Murmansk-Nikel Railway
to Murmansk
Russia
Norway
border
to Murmansk via Pechenga
 Kirkenes
to Skibotn via Lakselv

Background

Proposals for a rail link between Lapland and northern Norway began serious consideration in 2017,[2] with the aim of linking the Finnish railway network to Arctic shipping routes.[3]

Route

Route options under consideration included starting at Rovaniemi or Kemijärvi to either Kirkenes or Murmansk in Russia; Kolari or Tornio to Narvik (via Sweden) or Tromsø.[4] The Rovaniemi to Kirkenes route has been determined the most feasible,[5] with an estimated cost of €2.9 billion.[6] €2 billion would be covered by the Finnish government, with the remaining €900 million covered by the Norwegian government.

Controversies

Environmental and cultural sensitivities exist which affect these plans, with concerns from the indigenous Sámi people that the proposed line would pass through reindeer grazing lands.[7]

See also

References
  1. sv:Järnväg mellan Finland och Ishavet
  2. "Proposed Arctic Railway Would Cut Through Lapland Reindeer Habitat". Arctic Deeply. 3 August 2017.
  3. "Finland-Norway rail link planned to fit Arctic sea routes". Reuters. 9 May 2019.
  4. "Lapland authorities plan zones for controversial rail line". The Independent Barents Observer. 30 April 2019.
  5. "Finland explores prospective railway link from Rovaniemi to the Arctic Ocean". YLE. 9 March 2018.
  6. "Plans move forward for €2.9bn Arctic railway". Construction Index. 12 March 2018.
  7. "Environmentalists and Sámi politicians hit out at new Arctic railway proposal". News Now Finland. 12 May 2019.


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