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Study by the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency: Shift to European track gauge would improve military mobility

Finnish Government

Ministry of Transport and Communications
Publication date 11.6.2025 11.16
Type:Press release

At the seminar held on 11 June 2025, the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency presented the main results of a study on extending the standard track gauge commonly used in Europe to northern Finland. According to the study, extending the narrower track gauge to Finland will primarily benefit military mobility.

"In the beginning of this government term, major changes took place in Finland's transport policy. At that point, we moved the focus increasingly to projects that strengthen security, military mobility and security of supply and improve the condition of the road network. The increasingly tense geopolitical situation, Finland's position at NATO's front line and Russia's prolonged, brutal and illegal aggression require that Finland's infrastructure will persist and work well in emergency conditions as well. A key focus must be on northern Finland, where the most urgent is Rail Nordica, that is, the shift to the European track gauge. Decisions concerning the rest of Finland will be made in spring 2027 at the latest," says Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne.

The study of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency explores the extension of the track gauge of 1,435 millimetres commonly used in Europe to Finland. The solution consists of a new track alongside the current track and, in some places, interlaced tracks.

Based on the study, in civilian transport the costs of the new track gauge would not be proportionate to the benefits to be gained from it. The benefits in terms of military mobility and security of supply cannot yet be estimated in quantitative terms. In further studies on the European track gauge it will be ensured that the needs of business and industry will also be taken into account, as far as possible.

The estimated costs of changing the track gauge of the entire area in northern Finland covered by the study, including the loading points and depots, are about EUR 3.2 billion. If the new Kolari-Svappavaara connection is added to the project, the price is estimated to be about EUR 4.8 billion. The cost estimate from the Swedish border to Oulu and Rovaniemi is about EUR 1.5 billion.
EU and NATO expect Finland to take action

Finland's track gauge is about 90 millimetres wider than elsewhere in Europe. The standard track gauge in Finland is 1,524 millimetres, while the track gauge commonly used in Europe is 1,435 millimetres.

The Trans-European Transport Network Regulation requires Member States to explore, plan and promote the shift to the standard track gauge commonly used in Europe. This concerns countries where the track gauge differs from the gauge of 1,435 mm. The TEN-T Regulation obliges to draw up a plan for a possible change of the track gauge to 1,435 millimetres by summer 2027.

The Commission stresses the importance of military mobility in its future funding periods. It is likely that Finland could receive EU funding for the shift to the track gauge commonly used in Europe. NATO also expects Finland to take action with respect to the track gauge.

The Finnish defence administration has identified inadequate railhead capacity as one of the main bottlenecks in terms of military mobility and considers the extension of the European track gauge to Finland as the most important measure to improve Finland's military mobility.
Funding for Rail Nordica project in mid-term policy review

In the mid-term policy review on 24 April 2025, the Government proposed EUR 20 million in funding for the Rail Nordica project concerning the planning of the extension of the track gauge commonly used in Europe to Finland. The first phase concerns planning a connection from the Haaparanta-Tornio border crossing point to Kemi. Extending the planning to Oulu and Rovaniemi has been suggested as well.

The aim of the Rail Nordica project is to promote military mobility and security of supply. The project also aims to improve the business environment in Finland and the other Nordic countries and respond to NATO's needs.