Rail operating permits

Infrastructure manager has to provide a plan of the rail project to Finnish Transport and Communications Agency if

1. a new rail is built

2. the efficiency of the current rail is improved, or

3. the current rail is renewed

Rail consist of the following parts:

• Infrastructure (rail, switch, ballast bed, foundation, base structure, tunnel, station)
• Control, command and signaling (traffic control, signals, lineside markers)
• Energy (railway electrification)

On the basis of the submitted plan, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency will notify the need for authorization of the railway project.

Notification of railway project (only in Finnish) (External link)

The authorisation for placing in service of a railway project

Upon completion of the railway project, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency shall be submitted an application for authorisation to be placed in service of rail.

Application for placing in service of rail (only in Finnish) (External link)

Temporary permit to operate

If the track is to be used before the authorisation to be placed in service of rail is granted, it must apply for a temporary permit to operate from Transport and Communications Agency. The permit may be granted for a phased renewal or upgrading project if it is necessary to operate the track to ensure adequate transport and the safety of the railway system is not jeopardised.

Temporary permit to operate (only in Finnish) (External link)