Railway closure impacts timber transport in Suupohja, Finland

In Suupohja, pine fiber wood is grown and harvested, but the processing industry is located outside the region. Transportation distances typically range from 200 to 400 kilometers. Following the closure of the Suupohja railway, shipments have shifted to road transport, predominantly along Route 67, which connects Seinäjoki to Kaskinen. Janne Ponsimaa, the head of the traffic planning unit at the South Ostrobothnia ELY Centre, estimated that after the railway’s closing, the number of trucks on this road has increased daily by 10-15. He noted this is relatively minor compared to the 150-800 trucks already traveling that route.

Pasi Lahti, managing director of the Lakeuden Forest Management Association, disagrees, asserting that the railway’s closure has significantly impacted transport distances. The transport distance to the Teuva terminal is 50 kilometers, and if wood must be taken to the Seinäjoki and Parkano terminals, transport distances double, thus raising wood costs.

Lahti anticipates that over 5,000 timber trucks will enter the roads annually, carrying the equivalent of 200 full-length trains’ worth of wood. This brings implications for traffic safety, carbon footprints of wood products, and rising expenses. A single timber truck carries just over 53 tons, with an estimated 270,000-330,000 tons transported annually via the Suupohja railway.

Jorma Vierula, director of the South Ostrobothnia Railway Association, estimates that before the line’s closure, it contributed approximately €12-13 million annually to the local economy. By restoring transport levels to 2007 record highs of over 800,000 tons, the regional economic impact could rise to €22-25 million annually.

Furthermore, Kaskinen port has recently aimed for a significant increase in cargo volumes by seeking an environmental permit for an additional 400,000 tons of handling capacity. Lahti estimates that around 1-1.5 million cubic meters of wood are harvested annually in the Suupohja area, with a potential decline of 10% due to the closure costing forest owners and companies €10-15 million per year. He expresses hope for the reopening of the railway, noting that a permanent closure would present significant barriers to reviving it.