15.04.2026
Main line group publishes strategy up to 2060
The main line must be developed into a high-quality, fast and reliable transport route that is two-track in its entire length and at least three-track between Helsinki and Tampere. The aim is also to improve international contacts. The development of the main railway requires a commitment that goes beyond government terms.
The guidelines are available in Helsinki on 15 April. the Main Line 2060 Strategy. The strategy has been prepared by the Finnish Main Line Group, which includes regional federations, cities, ports and chambers of commerce along the entire main line.
Vice-Chairman of the Main Line Group Markus Erkkilä The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia considers the Main Line Vision to be important, as the development of the Main Line has lacked a clear long-term goal, even though it is undoubtedly the backbone of the Finnish transport system.
The main railway line in Finland is 800 kilometres long from Helsinki via Hämeenlinna, Tampere, Seinäjoki, Kokkola and Oulu to Tornio. With its main connecting tracks (Pori, Vaasa, Jyväskylä and Rovaniemi), it forms a whole that moves the whole of Finland.
“In recent years, different visions of megaprojects have taken over the transport policy space. They are needed, but when talking about them, it is often forgotten that almost all rail transport projects are based on a functioning Main Track and its ability to connect different parts of Finland together. This is why at least the two-track Main Line should be recognised as a long-term key project needed in all situations", Markus Erkkilä points out.
At present, the condition, capacity and service level of the Main Railway do not correspond to its status as the most important transport route in Finland. There is enough investment and repair debt for the entire length of the main line.
The main line, with the exception of the Helsinki-Tampere, Seinäjoki-Lapua and Kokkola-Ylivieska connections, is a single track. Between Tampere and Tornio there are more than 600 kilometres of single-track, disturbance-sensitive and low-traffic tracks.
“The number of passengers between Ylivieska and Oulu has increased the most in relative terms in recent years. On the single-track section, the track has a high sensitivity to disturbances and too long intervals cause problems. This is why we need to start planning double track sections between Liminka and Ylivieska", says Markus Erkkilä.
Finland's Main Line Group's proposal for the implementation of the Main Line 2060 strategy requires the continuous identification and implementation of new key measures. Achieving this goal requires cooperation and commitment beyond government terms.
At present, the rail network does not enable all the desired and planned additional traffic, which means that the full potential of the Main Line is not used. Some problems can be solved with heavy infrastructure projects, and small and cost-effective measures are enough for many.
In addition to the two-track and at least three-track target modes on the Helsinki-Tampere route, the aim is to complete the Main Line on the Lentorata and the Western Shortcut of Tampere. The aim is to achieve international accessibility and security of supply on the European track gauge, at least from Tornio to Oulu and Rovaniemi.
Main line to Europe
The main line is part of the European North Sea-Baltic and Scandinavia-Mediterranean TEN-T corridors and an important gateway for Finnish exports via port connections. It is also Finland's strongest south-north route, whose task is to ensure Finland's security of supply in all circumstances.
In the strategy, the Finnish Main Railway Group proposes the further development of the Main Railway into an international transport corridor by supplementing the Tornio-Haaparanta connection. There are three possibilities for this, called megaprojects:
- Helsinki-Tallinn tunnel and completion of the Tampere-Warsaw railway corridor
- Vaasa-Umeå Fixed Link and Nordic Corridor
- Kolari-Kiiruna railway connection and Tunturirata connection to Narvik
Megaprojects are an extension of the Main Line. Unleashing the full potential of international connections requires a significantly developed and improved Main Line. An international connection would also mean opportunities for significant EU funding.
In order to realise the projects, a uniform national message and a will is needed on how to integrate Finland into Europe and how to continue the track gauge transition after the first phase (Oulu/Rovaniemi).
Persistence and coherence in transport policy
The main railway is the backbone of the Finnish transport system and a nationwide continuous key project. Its development is carried out with determination piece by piece towards the target space identified at the connection interval level.
The main railway group proposes that development be promoted as sufficiently large, ambitious and long-term entities.
Key actions for the coming years include:
- Ensuring the continuity of the renovation and development of the main railway in Government Programmes, Transport 12 and transport policy that goes beyond government terms.
- more up-to-date and continuous identification and prioritisation of development targets
- planning the trajectory up to completion and taking a decision on implementation;
- securing the development of connecting lines so that the railway network is taken into account as a whole
The projects do not compete with each other, but support each other. Removing bottlenecks in Southern Finland will also bring significant cumulative benefits to Northern Finland, and functional Northern connections may be the lifeline of our country in a crisis situation. It's not about choosing a focus, it's about the whole.
In social and transport policy debates, several billion projects often attract attention: shortcuts, tunnels and bridges. However, the starting point for big visions is that the basics work. The rail network must be in order, the travel experience comfortable and the traffic reliable.
Additional information:
Regional Council of Pirkanmaa:
Traffic Planner Juho Vehviläinen, tel. +358 44 422 2017, juho.vehviläinen@pirkanmaa.fi
Regional Assembly of Oulu Region:
Markus Erkkilä, Director of Planning, tel. +358 40 685 4045, markus.erkkila@pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi
The main railway group is on the main route in Finland. 20 organisations are represented in the main line group: joint municipal authorities, central cities, chambers of commerce and ports. The objective of the group's activities is to ensure the development of the Main Railway and its connecting tracks as a whole, as a trunk channel through the whole country.
