Railway maintenance impacts train schedules in northern Finland

In northern Finland, railway maintenance work will continue through late summer, impacting train schedules. Throughout August, bus replacements will occur on several lines, including those between Kajaani and Oulu, Suonenjoki and Kajaani, as well as Vihanti and Oulu. Additionally, essential upgrades are being made between Oulu and Laurila in Kemi, including renewing the track structure, replacing level crossings, and renovating bridges. Consequently, some regular trains between Oulu and Rovaniemi will be replaced by buses until early October. These bus replacements have already been in effect since late June. Between Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi, bus replacements are also planned for August and September.

VR’s long-distance traffic planning director, Mikko Linderoos, stated that several minor maintenance projects have been carried out in northern Finland over the summer, which has led to the necessity of substituting bus services. He noted that the entire journey might be covered by bus, or just a portion of it. “While track work causes inconvenience during operations, it is a fundamental requirement for maintaining our service and keeping schedules,” Linderoos explained.

The electrification of the railway section between Ylivieska and Iisalmi was completed last winter, and VR is exploring the possibility of initiating electric train services on this route in December 2023.

According to Miia Kari, head of the regional projects for the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, significant funding has been available in recent years for railway network improvements. She emphasized that the agency has been able to invest heavily in railway development and upgrades over the past three construction seasons, a shift from previous years when more emphasis was placed on road infrastructure. The ongoing renovation project between Oulu and Laurila that began in 2023 will take several years to complete. The agency plans further basic renovation projects in northern Finland over the next 20 to 30 years based on the condition of the rail network, which, according to Kari, is generally in good shape across the country.