Iceland’s Minister of Infrastructure Eyjolfur Armannsson (left), Finland’s Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne, and Denmark’s Minister of Transport Thomas Nolsöe Danielsen at the Nordic transport ministers’ press conference in Helsinki on 13 May 2025. Photo: Antti Aimo-Koivisto / Lehtikuva
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Finland intends to shift its railway system to the European standard track gauge, Transport Minister Lulu Ranne announced in Helsinki on Tuesday.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Nordic transport ministers, Ranne confirmed that the government must decide on the change by July 2027. Finland currently uses a 1,524 mm gauge, a legacy from the Russian Empire, while the European standard is 1,435 mm.
Ranne cited national security, military mobility, and improved links to Sweden and Norway as reasons behind the planned change.
“This is not just Finland’s project. This is a joint effort with Europe and Nato,” she said.
Initial work would begin north of Oulu, near the Norwegian Sea corridor, where Finland is preparing a potential future rail connection. Ranne noted that preparations for the shift are already under way due to requirements in the EU’s TEN-T Regulation, which comes into force this summer.
The TEN-T Regulation obliges countries with non-standard rail gauges to study and plan for a future transition to the European standard. Finland’s existing gauge, which dates back to the 19th century, is 89 mm wider than the EU norm.
The previous government had ruled out the change in 2022, citing costs. Ranne acknowledged the scale of the undertaking but stressed that EU funds could cover up to 50 percent of planning expenses and 30 percent of construction.
“The time is right to start now. Of course, we are very pragmatic and realistic — we cannot do this in five years,” she said. “Planning will continue until the end of the decade, and maybe in 2032 we can start construction.”
The change is intended to align Finland’s transport infrastructure with EU strategic and defence priorities.
The Nordic ministers also issued a joint statement on Tuesday focused on military mobility and civil readiness. The declaration stressed the need for better cross-border coordination in transport systems across the region.
“The joint Nordic transport strategy must account for security of supply and defence logistics,” the Finnish Ministry of Transport stated.
The meeting continues on Wednesday, with maritime safety and the presence of so-called shadow fleets in the Baltic Sea on the agenda.
Finland and Åland currently hold the rotating Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The informal gathering of transport ministers forms part of the official Presidency programme.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
