In Finland, plans to build a standard-gauge infrastructure in the far north of the country are being examined with a view to improving connections to the west. Due to tense relations with Russia and its NATO membership, Finland is increasingly looking westward. Currently, Finland uses 1,524 mm gauge rails, while most of Europe, including neighbouring Sweden, uses 1,435 mm gauge rails. This complicates cross-border operations, which are becoming increasingly important both economically and militarily. The Finnish railway administration RHK is currently analysing the changes needed to enable European gauge transport north of Oulu. One option is to fix four rails to the same sleepers to support both gauges, as is already the case on the bridge between Tornio and Haparanda. The expansion of the standard gauge infrastructure would be a further step following an earlier modernisation project in which the Finnish and Swedish transport authorities renovated and electrified the rail infrastructure between the border towns.
