Regulations in the transport sector

Legislation and regulations applicable to the railway sector have a significant impact on how rail traffic is maintained and developed. The technical regulations of rail traffic and rolling stock are very detailed due to the goal of improving the safety of rolling stock, transport and the rail network. The national transport system plan (Traffic 12), in turn, will have a wide-ranging impact on the development of rail traffic in the near future.

The Traffic 12 transport system plan is currently being updated. Rail transport plays a key role in promoting the objectives of the transport system: accessibility, sustainability and efficiency. Passenger train services are developed comprehensively with a long-term approach that transcends government terms, which is why regulations must be long-term, predictable and based on EU regulations, and provide a stable outlook for the future in terms of business operations and investments.

EU-level regulations

The majority of national railway legislation is enacted at the EU level. Train services are comprehensively regulated with directives issued at the EU level. EU regulations require fair and equal competitive conditions in the market. The EU encourages countries to increase the share of railways in their modes of transport. In order to open up competition in railway traffic, a fourth railway package was launched with the goal of creating a single European rail area.

Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T)

The central trunk connections of the EU transport system form the TEN-T transport network that consists of a core network and a comprehensive network. The service level of the TEN-T transport network is defined at the EU level. In terms of rail transport, the core network includes the main line from Helsinki to Tornio and the railway connection from western Finland to eastern Finland (Turku-Vainikkala).