Winter storms disrupt train services in Pirkanmaa and Southeast Finland due to fallen trees

Severe winter storms have caused disruptions in train services across Pirkanmaa and Southeast Finland due to fallen trees on the railway tracks. On Thursday, passengers experienced delays and cancellations in rail transport.

A Pendolino train traveling from Helsinki to Vaasa struck a tree that had fallen onto the tracks in Karhejärvi just after eleven in the evening. Fortunately, this collision did not pose any danger to the passengers on board. Fintraffic’s rail traffic manager Rauno Helander reported that the train was subsequently towed with its passengers by a diesel locomotive to Seinäjoki, where bus connections to Vaasa were being arranged.

Both of the train’s power collectors were damaged in the incident, and the train will remain in Seinäjoki for repairs. Work is underway to fix the damaged overhead line, and it is expected to be completed by around seven in the morning.

Night trains traveling in both the northern and southern directions are affected near Karhejärvi. According to Helander, trains will be escorted past the affected area one by one. If the repair schedule remains on track, diesel assistance should facilitate passage through Karhejärvi after four in the morning.

Train services between Imatra and Parikkala have also been halted due to fallen trees. Fintraffic’s rail control center estimates that a clearance crew will arrive at the scene after four in the morning, with no current timeline available for when services might resume. An assessment team is expected to arrive at about six in the morning. Meanwhile, trains departing Joensuu at five and six in the morning will stop at Parikkala, where bus connections to Imatra will be provided to help passengers continue their journeys.