Due to safety concerns, trains on the Karelian track in Finland will only be allowed to travel at 10 km/h for the time being, with the hope for a new bridge to allow for higher speeds in the future.
In Finland, the Karelian track has been hampered by safety restrictions following the instability of the Syrjäsalmi railway bridge. As a result, trains are currently limited to a speed of only 10 kilometers per hour, significantly slowing down transit between Joensuu and Imatra. This limitation has been in place since early 2023 when the Transport Infrastructure Agency noted excessive movement in the bridge, prompting immediate action to ensure passenger safety.
Daily, over 20 passenger and cargo trains are affected by this speed limit, necessitating a slowdown before the bridge and a subsequent acceleration once they've passed. The ongoing construction of a new railway line and bridge offers hope for improved travel speeds, as Project Manager Juhan Tyrväinen from the Transport Infrastructure Agency indicated that the new bridge is set to be completed by the end of 2027.
Work on the new railway bridge is progressing despite winter conditions. While certain earthworks have paused due to the cold weather, the construction team is managing to carry out significant tasks such as pile driving. The completion of the new infrastructure is expected to greatly alleviate transit woes, allowing trains to eventually reach speeds of up to 200 km/h in the next decade, enhancing transportation efficiency in the region.
