Finland - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

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Introduction

This list is based on the timetable dated 11 December 2016 to 18 June 2017. Standard abbreviations are explained in General Information.

Map references for each route entry are given in parentheses ( ). References prefixed "ERA" refer to the European Railway Atlas Nordic Region, Regional Series 2016, by M.G.Ball.

Obscure services

Turku - Artukainen, HK Areena platform

(ERA 6C2) FI17/1

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 Gatorade Center (formerly HK Areena). See the Turku Areenat website for details of events.

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

(ERA 6C3) FI17/2

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

(ERA 7A3, not shown) FI17/3

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 for Ice Hockey Games in Salpausselkä.

Trams

See Finland - Tram services over obscure routes

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 and 9 Turku - Turku satama (harbour)
7 Rovaniemi - Kemijärvi
7 Kemi (Laurila) - Kolari
9 Pieksämäki - Joensuu
11 Orivesi - Haapamäki
14 Joensuu - Nurmes
17 Seinäjoki - Haapamäki
17 Keuruu - Jyvaskyla
18 Ilsalmi - Ylivieska

Deletions since previous edition

FI16/2 Kerava - Lahti This line has now been open long enough for users to be aware it is used by all direct trains between Helsinki and Lahti

See also