A new freight corridor linking Finland, Sweden and Norway is being planned, combining ferry services and electrified rail infrastructure to create an alternative route for transporting goods across Scandinavia.
The project brings together Norwegian railway operator OnRail, ferry operator Wasaline, Kvarken Ports Umeå and the Port of Trondheim. The partners are working to establish an intermodal transport connection between Vaasa in Finland, Umeå in Sweden and Trondheim in Norway.
The proposed corridor will use Wasaline’s ferry service between Vaasa and Umeå, connecting with a planned rail freight service between Umeå and Trondheim. Freight arriving at the Port of Trondheim would then have access to onward maritime connections.
The planned train service would use electric locomotives and carry containers, semi-trailers and industrial goods. OnRail has indicated that it is prepared to establish the service in cooperation with cargo owners, freight forwarders and other industry partners.
The electrification of Norway’s Meråker Line is a key development supporting the proposed connection. The railway links Trondheim with the Swedish border at Storlien, where it connects with the Swedish rail network. Its electrification enables electric freight train operations between central Sweden and Trondheim, removing the need for diesel traction on this section of the route.
The new connection could provide businesses in northern Scandinavia with an alternative to established north–south freight routes, which traditionally rely heavily on transport through the Baltic Sea and the Kattegat. The corridor could also offer shorter transport distances for exports from the region to destinations including the United Kingdom and Iceland, using maritime services from Trondheim.
The initiative is being developed against a backdrop of increased attention to transport resilience in the Nordic region. The project partners point to concerns among northern Scandinavian industries about the possibility of disruption to Baltic Sea shipping routes during a future crisis or emergency.
The rail connection through Trondheim, Meråker and Storlien could provide an additional route for moving goods between Norway, Sweden and Finland. The railway has also attracted attention for its potential role in military logistics, including the movement of personnel and equipment towards Sweden and Finland.
OnRail is separately preparing to introduce a new freight train service between Trondheim and Oslo on 1 February 2027. This could provide a further connection between the proposed northern corridor and Norway’s capital.
Meanwhile, Wasaline already operates a daily ferry service between Vaasa and Umeå, carrying both passengers and freight. The route is served by Aurora Botnia, a hybrid vessel powered by batteries and biogas.
The ferry connection forms part of the Kvarken Corridor, with the ports of Vaasa and Umeå working together to support trade and transport links across the region.
The proposed freight service would extend this existing maritime connection westwards through Sweden to Trondheim, creating a combined sea and rail route across three countries.
