Arctic railroad development
Norwegian and Finnish transport authorities have started a study of the needs for development of a train connection from Rovaniemi in Finland to Kirkenes or Skibotn in Norway.
The study, which also will include possibilities for railroad connection to Sweden and Russia, should be ready to he handed over to the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communication November 1, Norwegian Broadcasting Cooperation reports.
At present the Finnish railway network ends in Rovaniemi, 500 kilometers from the Arctic coast of Finnmark.
As BarentsObserver reported, another study presented in Kirkenes in March shows that there could be a market for up to 40 daily trains from Finland to the Barents Sea coast. It is especially in connection with transport of iron ore, oil and gas that Finnish authorities see the need for an Arctic railway.
Swedish authorities are also looking at the possibilities to develop railroad as a future means of transportation across the borders. Plans for a railroad from the ore mines outside the border town of Pajala, Norrbotten County, to the Finnish railroad grid have been approved. This project will be financed by the Finnish and Swedish states and the mining company Northland Resources, Swedish Television reports.
Read also: Sweden, Finland invest in Arctic railway
