Finland set to receive EU exemption for railway mobile network

Finland is set to receive an exemption from the European Commission to use a commercial mobile network for communication between trains and their traffic control system, Yle reports.

All other EU countries currently use dedicated railway mobile networks for this purpose. Finland’s solution is linked to the Digirail project, which is replacing the existing train control system and introducing the European Rail Traffic Management System, or ERTMS.

The new technology will provide real-time information about train movements and is intended to make passenger and freight rail traffic safer and more predictable. It will also replace current systems that are nearing the end of their service life.

Building a dedicated 5G network for the railways would cost more than 100 million euros, according to Esa Sirkiä, a department director at the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency. Using a commercial mobile network is expected to save tens of millions of euros.

The network has already been tested on the Kouvola to Kotka and Hamina railway line, which has no commercial traffic. Project manager Juha Lehtola said a draft of the exemption already exists, but still needs the transport commissioner’s signature after the summer holiday period.

Cybersecurity concerns raised

Finland is also seeking to make the use of commercial mobile networks in railway technology possible across the EU. This makes the country a pilot for technology being developed for use by other member states.

Lehtola said cybersecurity had been raised during discussions about the exemption. He said telecommunications operators’ core business was keeping mobile networks reliable and secure, meaning they had a strong interest in maintaining their operation.

He added that interruptions in modern networks were expected to last about a second, compared with up to a minute in older technology. A train could travel a considerable distance during such a longer interruption, he said.

Digirail construction underway

Finland’s first Digirail route is being built between Tampere and Pori and Rauma. The project involves replacing safety equipment and other technology on an existing railway line.

Much of the work has already been completed, but track work will continue for another couple of years. The system has been tested for some time, although testing with a locomotive is due to begin in the autumn.

Passenger rail services to Rauma are scheduled to return next year after a 40-year break. At present, only freight trains travel by rail to the city.

The Digirail system is scheduled to enter service at the end of 2029. Project manager Aapo Tiilikainen said the railway itself could be ready earlier, but trains equipped with ERTMS are not yet available. Railway companies have previously criticised the implementation schedule and said the new system would be expensive.