A consortium formed by Swedish-Finnish engineering companies Sweco and AFRY AB has been selected by the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency Väylävirasto to design the Rail Nordica railway project connecting northern Finland with Sweden.
The planned cross-border rail line is expected to strengthen transport links between the two Nordic countries while improving military and freight logistics across the region.
€18 Million Contract Awarded For Rail Nordica Design
The design contract is valued at €18 million, with the amount split equally between Sweco and AFRY AB.
The project includes plans for a new railway connection between the border region of Haparanda-Tornio and the Finnish city of Kemi.
The future line will use the European standard 1435 mm railway gauge, helping connect Finland’s broader 1524 mm rail network with Sweden’s system.
Project Designed To Improve Nordic Connectivity
The Rail Nordica project is intended to improve cross-border transportation capacity and strengthen strategic connectivity between Finland and Sweden.
The development phase is expected to continue until spring 2027 before moving into a wider implementation and planning stage scheduled to run through the end of 2030.
The railway connection is also expected to support freight transport and broader regional infrastructure integration across northern Scandinavia.
Military Logistics Central To Project Development
Finland and Sweden first announced plans for the railway connection in 2023 as part of efforts to strengthen military mobility and defence logistics across the Nordic region.
The project gained additional strategic importance following Finland’s NATO accession and growing regional security cooperation between Nordic countries.
In 2024, Finland and Sweden also confirmed plans for joint procurement of freight wagons intended for the transportation of military equipment.
Nordic Infrastructure Investment Continues To Expand
The Rail Nordica project reflects broader investment trends across Northern Europe as governments increase spending on transport infrastructure linked to defence readiness, supply chain resilience and cross-border mobility.
Officials expect the future railway to play a significant role in improving both civilian and military transportation capacity between Finland and Sweden in the coming decades.