Improved accessibility and European connections
East Railway is a strategic TEN-T rail corridor from the Helsinki metropolitan area to the eastern parts of Finland. The railway will provide direct and fast train connections to Helsinki airport and link Finland more closely to international logistics connections and transport corridors.
Improved accessibility along the EU´s eastern border
The East Railway corridor runs from the Helsinki metropolitan area to Kouvola via Porvoo, connecting to the existing railways in Kouvola and to the new Airport Line in the south.
The corridor is planned for high-speed trains, commuter rail and freight traffic. For freight transport it strengthens rail-based connections to key ports along the Gulf of Finland through terminal and network linkages.
The East Railway enhances the accessibility, competitiveness, security and resilience of regions along the EU’s eastern border. Travel times are planned to be reduced to around three hours from Helsinki to Kuopio and Joensuu. From Porvoo, travel time to Helsinki is expected to decrease from approximately one hour to around 30 minutes. The line is planned to be operational by 2040.
East Railway runs some 118 kilometres between Helsinki Airport and the city of Kouvola. In Kouvola, the new track connects to Savonia and Karelia lines. At its southern end, East Railway is designed to enable integration with Rail Baltica and the European standard gauge system.
Regional competitiveness and growth in Eastern Finland
East Railway strengthens connection between Eastern Finland, the Helsinki metropolitan area and international transport networks, including Helsinki Airport. It improves export competitiveness by enhancing the reliability and efficiency of logistics for transport-dependent industries.
A faster rail connection enables new opportunities for business, investment, education and tourism, while improving labour market functioning and supporting multi-local living across the region.
Part of the TEN-T network
East Railway is part of the extended core network of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), with corresponding rail connections targeted for completed by 2040. The TEN-T network is a key EU policy instrument for strengthening cohesion and promoting growth and employment.
The Kouvola RRT is the only Finnish railroad terminal included in the European Core Transport Network.
The new corridor enables the future integration of Finland into the European rail network via Rail Baltica. Adoption of European standard gauge would strengthen cross-border connectivity, improve north-south mobility and provide alternative routes in crisis situations.
Within Finland, East Railway strengthens security of supply by increasing rail capacity on the congested eastern rail lines.