Railway traffic between Tornio and Haparanda

The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom and the Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen) have agreed on the practical arrangements for the national safety authorities’ tasks in railway traffic between Tornio and Haparanda. The agreement entered into force on 10 April 2026.

Single safety certificate covers cross-border traffic

Operations from Finland to Haparanda

A safety certificate with Finland as the area of operation is also valid on the 1524 mm rail network from the Finnish border up to and including the Haparanda border station, provided that cross-border traffic has been taken into account in the safety certification process.

Railway undertakings must comply with Swedish national rules and other procedures applicable in Sweden concerning the operation of railway traffic. They must also have an insurance policy or equivalent arrangement covering liability arising from railway operations in Sweden.

If you intend to operate services from Finland to Haparanda, indicate this in your safety certificate application.

• Download form RU5621 from the link below and attach the completed form to the safety certificate application.
• Attach proof of a valid insurance policy or equivalent arrangement to the application.

Operations from Sweden to Tornio

A safety certificate with Sweden as the area of operation is also valid on the 1435 mm rail network from the Swedish border up to and including the Tornio border station, provided that cross-border traffic has been taken into account in the safety certification process.

Railway undertakings must comply with Finnish national rules and other procedures applicable in Finland concerning the operation of railway traffic. They must also have an insurance policy or equivalent arrangement covering liability arising from railway operations in Finland.

If you intend to operate services from Sweden to Tornio, indicate this in your safety certificate application.

• Download form RU5620 from the link below and attach the completed form to the safety certificate application.
• Attach proof of a valid insurance policy or equivalent arrangement to the application.

Driver training for operations between Tornio and Haparanda

Traffic between Tornio and Haparanda on the 1524 mm rail network is operated in accordance with Finnish operating rules, under Finnish traffic control and with Finnish as the operating language. This also applies to the sections of the rail network that are geographically located in Sweden.

Traficom grants approvals for rail transport training centres and examiners on the 1524 mm rail network on both sides of the border.

For traffic operated on the 1435 mm rail network, the rules and approvals of the state in whose geographical territory the operations take place apply, in accordance with Directive 2007/59/EC.

Supervision relating to training and qualifications is carried out by the safety authority that granted the approval. 

Vehicle authorisations

Vehicles within the scope of the Interoperability Directive in the state granting the authorisation:

• Vehicles authorised for the Finnish rail network with a 1524 mm gauge may operate from the Finnish border up to and including Haparanda (station area, terminals and associated tracks with a 1524 mm gauge) under an authorisation valid in Finland.
• Vehicles authorised for the Swedish rail network with a 1435 mm gauge may operate from the Swedish border up to and including Tornio (station area, terminals and associated tracks with a 1435 mm gauge) under an authorisation valid in Sweden.

Vehicles authorised on the basis of mutual recognition (including vehicles intended exclusively for local, historical or touristic use):

• Vehicles authorised in Finland before 1991 may operate on the 1524 mm rail network from the Finnish border to Haparanda.
• Vehicles authorised in Sweden before 1995 may operate on the 1435 mm rail network from the Swedish border to Tornio.

Supervision

The Finnish and Swedish safety authorities are responsible for supervision relating to the rail network and railway operations within their respective geographical territories.