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Sweco and AFRY selected to plan the Rail Nordica railway project connecting Finland to the West
Väylävirasto, The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency has selected a consortium formed by Sweco and AFRY to plan the Rail Nordica railway project, which aims to connect the Finnish railway network with Northern European rail infrastructure. In this project, Sweco and AFRY will be responsible for administrative planning, permit processes, and ground investigations related to the railway connection and associated infrastructure.
The objective of the Rail Nordica project to strengthen Finland’s railway connections to the West and ensure efficient cross-border transport chains. If implemented, the railway will improve Finland’s security of supply and enhance the operating conditions for businesses. The project covers a planned railway connection between the Haparanda–Tornio border crossing point and Kemi. The preliminary scope includes a link from Haparanda to the Port of Kemi, the Tornio–Röyttä connection, a transfer terminal in the Tornio area, and a new railway bridge across the Tornio River.
During the development phase, Sweco and AFRY will work together with the Väylävirasto to define the detailed scope and schedule of the planning work. This phase will continue until spring 2027, after which the project will move into the implementation phase of planning, expected to last until the end of 2030.
The consortium will be responsible for required studies, ground investigations, master planning, and environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedures along the Tornio–Kemi section. The assignment also includes preparing railway plans so that detailed construction planning can begin as soon as funding is secured. The railway will be designed using the European standard gauge, which is used in Sweden and is narrower than Finland’s current track gauge. As a result, a new standard-gauge track will be planned alongside the existing railway within the project area.
“The purpose of this procurement method is to ensure that the planning proceeds smoothly, and we focus on the most important issues and the sites that are the most urgent,” says Outi Leuhtonen, Project Manager of Railway Planning at the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency.
“It is great to be involved in planning Finland’s first railway project based on the European standard gauge. Rail Nordica highlights the importance of the railway network for security of supply and strengthens our connections to the West,” says Juho Siipo, Divison director, Infrastructure and Transport, Sweco.
A total of EUR 20 million has been allocated in the state budget for the planning of Rail Nordica, of which EUR 18 million is earmarked for this procurement.
Inquiries:
Juho Siipo, Division director, Infrastructure and Transportation at Sweco Finland, tel. +358 40 076 4890, juho.siipo@sweco.fi
Tiina Varhee, media contact, Sweco, tel. +358 40 723 1231 ext.tiina.varhee@sweco.fi