Junakuljetusta

Junakuljetusta is Finnish for rail transport, referring to the movement of people and goods by train on the Finnish rail network. The term encompasses both passenger services, such as long-distance, regional, and commuter trains, and freight movements carried by rail.

In practice, junakuljetusta involves various actors and infrastructures. Passenger transport is operated by national and regional rail companies, with VR Group traditionally playing a central role in Finland’s passenger services. Freight rail is served by VR Freight and other operators that carry goods across domestic routes and international corridors. The rail system also relies on integrative passenger networks that connect with local transport, such as metro and bus services in metropolitan areas, to support seamless mobility.

The rail network’s infrastructure is managed by public authorities, with responsibilities for track maintenance, signaling, safety standards, and capacity allocation. In Finland, the system falls under the regulation and oversight of Traficom (the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency) and the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (Väylävirasto). These bodies set safety requirements, issue operating permissions, and coordinate investment in electrification, modernization, and expansion to improve efficiency and capacity.

Historically, junakuljetusta developed from 19th-century railways toward a modern, electrified, and increasingly intermodal system. Today it is seen as a key component of sustainable transport policy, aiming to reduce road congestion and emissions, improve regional accessibility, and support economic activity. Challenges include infrastructure modernization, service reliability, and balancing competition with regulated access to the network.