Rail agency advances European-gauge plans for Kemi link

Finland’s Transport Infrastructure Agency is expanding plans for a European-gauge railway in Kemi and Keminmaa, with field and soil surveys due to begin in November, Yle reports.

The proposed line would run from Rajakangas in Keminmaa to the Ajos harbour and Veitsiluoto in Kemi. The agency is also studying how the new track could connect to the railway towards Rovaniemi, and what changes may be needed to existing railway and harbour tracks.

The Rail Nordica project, led by the agency, aims to connect Finland’s rail network with Sweden’s and the wider European network. It requires adopting the European gauge, which is narrower than the Finnish gauge.