The Laurila–Tornio–Haparanda railway project to be implemented in collaboration between Finland and Sweden
The section of railway stretching from Laurila to Haparanda through Tornio is exceptional, as it crosses national borders. The planning of the railway development will be implemented at Sweco in collaboration between Finland and Sweden, because matters such as two different track gauges must be taken into account.
The Laurila–Tornio–Haparanda railway project is the joint effort of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, the National Emergency Supply Agency and Sweden’s Trafikverket. The railway will also be part of the Europe-wide traffic network. The railway project to be implemented in 2023 and 2024 will have special significance for the security of supply in Northern Scandinavia, as the rail line from Finland to Sweden can replace international maritime transport in exceptional circumstances.
“The project will also improve the cost-effectiveness of transport, which will affect the competitiveness of our industry,” says Project Manager Terhi Honkarinta from the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency. The project will also develop level crossing safety, and spell good news for those working across the border. “The project creates the preconditions for cross-border passenger traffic, but separate decisions are needed to actually start passenger traffic.”
Honkarinta estimates that the railway project is medium in size, but otherwise exceptionally interesting. The project involves cross-border cooperation and addresses issues that would otherwise rarely come up. “There are also lots of stakeholders and types of technologies to be coordinated, so the dialogue must work well within the project group.”
Electricity for more than 20 kilometres of track
Sweco was already responsible for the Tornio-Haparanda safety equipment at the stage of the railway plan, and the next theme will be the safety equipment of the Haparanda train depot and the construction of the section of railway from Tornio in Finland to Haparanda. The planning of the electrified track is the responsibility of Ratatek.
“The entire track will be electrified, meaning that approximately 22 kilometres of track on the Finnish side and one kilometre on the Swedish side will be electrified,” says Sweco’s Project Manager Riitta Juutinen. A new passenger platform and parking area will also be built in the Tornio train depot. “They will be harmonised with the protected station buildings beloved by the Torne River Valley residents.”
The most demanding locations in terms of design are the railway plans that involve expanding the Torne River Bridge. When the track is electrified, the electrical track system must also be able to fit on the bridge in terms of height. The different rail gauges of the two countries will also be taken into account: Finland’s gauge of 1,524 mm and Sweden’s narrower 1,435 mm.
Design resources to be ensured in cross-border cooperation
Sweco will make sure that the railway project stays on its tight schedule in collaboration between Finland and Sweden. “This is the first infrastructure project in which the planning of entire types of technology will be carried out within the group in Sweden,” says Tuomo Lamberg, who is in charge of cross-border projects at Sweco. The Swedish designers are responsible for rail engineering and the ground investigations and terrain surveys carried out on the Swedish side. The Finns are responsible for the design of the safety equipment.
Cooperation between countries is a major advantage, because, according to Lamberg, sufficient planning resources are no longer taken for granted in railway projects. “Our solution to the market situation is international cooperation.”
Cross-border cooperation is also an interesting opportunity for the designers. “We have the opportunity to learn from each other,” Juutinen says. There are differences in working cultures and the project team must be careful with terminology. The project language will be English, but the plans will be drawn up in Finnish. “Luckily, we have people with skills in all three languages on both sides of the border!”
Picture: Väylävirasto