Regulations in the transport sector 

The implementation of the national Transport 12 transport system plan is underway.  

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 rail in their modes of transport.  

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, an extended 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 from Western Finland to Eastern Finland (Turku–Lappenranta). In terms of railways, the expanded core network has been expanded to include the Airport line, the West Railway from Helsinki to Turku and the East Railway.