Finland - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

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Introduction

This list is based on the timetable dated 26 October 2014 to 28 March 2015. Standard abbreviations are explained in General Information.

Obscure services

Trams

See Tram services over obscure routes - Finland

Turku - Artukainen, HK Areena platform

(16B1) FI15/1

The first 4 km of the Uusikaupunki line are used to reach this simple platform (which is actually on the beginning of the Pernon telakka branch) by special trains for events at the HK Areena.

Kerava - Lahti

(17A1-B1, not shown) FI15/2

This line is used by trains between Helsinki and Lahti not calling at Riihimaki.

Tampere avoiding line: Lempäälä (Tampere Viinikka) – Orivesi (Tampere Järvensivu)

(17A2) FI15/3

This south to east curve links the Helsinki and Jyväskylä lines. On occasions when overnight trains to and from northern Finland are diverted via Haapamäki, due to engineering work on the main line via Parkano, they usually run via the avoiding line and reverse in and out of Tampere station. This is to avoid reversing the formation of the trains, particularly those carrying cars. Use of the avoiding line normally occurs between stops at Tampere and Seinäjoki.

Lahti – Salpausselkä

(17B1, not shown) FI15/4

A short branch from a triangular junction west of Lahti runs to this simple platform north of the main line from Helsinki, and is used by trains to special events at Lahti Urheilukeskus (a sports area). Trains run direct from Helsinki for the annual Lahti Ski Jumping Games, which take place each March - usually the first weekend. Generally speaking, the branch sees several trains each year, most of which are open to the public, but advertised on each operator's and event's own web pages. Information about trains to Salpausselkä is usually available from the event organizers and train operators, which at the moment are most often preservation societies and railtour companies.

If the train comes directly from Helsinki or Riihimäki it uses the west curve. Conversely, if the train comes from the east or stops at Lahti station it uses the east curve. The branch is not electrified and has no loop, so locomotive hauled trains must either be propelled in one direction or have a second locomotive. Most railtours and special trains are either run with diesel railcars - avoiding the problem altogether - or, if run with preserved steam or diesel engines, simply propelled in one direction .

According to notices pasted up at the platform in 2008, the following trains ran in 2006:

P 503 09:22 Helsinki - 10:30 Riihimäki - Salpausselkä
P 501 10:26 Helsinki - 11:30 Riihimäki - Salpausselkä
P 502 17:15? Salpausselkä - 18:09 Riihimäki - Helsinki
P 502 20:15? Salpausselkä - 21:09 Riihimäki - Helsinki

The allocation of train numbers is unclear as P 502 was used for both the return trains. It is possible that only one of the two pairs of trains runs on a particular day. VR charter trains are usually numbered in the 500 series. The departure times from Salpausselkä are approximate as no times were given, and have been estimated from the arrival time at Riihimäki.

The line may also be used by other special trains, such as that to Ice Hockey Games in Salpausselkä on 15 November 2007.

Other sparse services

The following lines have few trains (relative to service levels generally in this country) - fewer than four trains each way on at least three days a week - or do not run each weekday

1/8 Turku - Turku satama (= harbour)
6 Kemi (Laurila) - Kolari
7 Rovaniemi - Kemijärvi
11 Orivesi - Haapamäki
14 Joensuu - Nurmes [scheduled to close from 27 March 2016]
17 Seinäjoki - Haapamäki - Jyväskylä [Seinäjoki - Haapamäki scheduled to close from 27 March 2016]
18 Ilsalmi - Ylivieska

Deletions since previous edition

None

See also