Although Finland has no dedicated high-speed rail lines, sections of its rail network are capable of running speeds of up to 220 km/h (137 mph). The Finnish national railway company VR operates tilting Alstom Pendolino trains. The trains reach their maximum speed of 220 km/h (137 mph) in regular operation on a 75.7 km (47.0 mi) route between Kerava and Lahti. This portion of track was opened in 2006. The trains can run at 200 km/h (124 mph) on a longer route between Helsinki and Seinäjoki and peak at that speed between Helsinki and Turku.[1] The main railway line between Helsinki and Oulu has been upgraded between Seinäjoki and Oulu to allow for trains to run at speeds between 160 km/h (99 mph) and 200 km/h (124 mph).[2] Other parts of the Finnish railway network are limited to lower speed.
A new service called Allegro started between Helsinki and Saint Petersburg, Russia, in December 2010 with a journey time of 3½ hours. It utilized four trains, with a top speed of 220 km/h (137 mph) which were a Pendolino model, supporting both Finnish and Russian standards.[3][4] However the service was discontinued in 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Between 2007 and 2010 the Russian line from the Finnish border to Saint Petersburg was electrified and improved to allow higher running speeds. The Finnish line (Riihimäki – Saint Petersburg Railway) was also upgraded where needed, mostly to 200 km/h (124 mph).
- ^ "Liikennenopeudet". Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- ^ "Väylävirasto - Rautateiden verkkoselostus 2019 - Rataosien perustiedot" (PDF). Retrieved 2020-07-09.
- ^ VR Group (6 September 2007). "Karelian Trains orders high-speed trains for Helsinki-St Petersburg route". Archived from the original on 16 May 2008.
- ^ "Finland". Hs.fi. Retrieved 2015-03-28.
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