Raudteeliini

Raudteeliini is the Finnish term for a railway line, a fixed route within a rail network along which trains operate. A raudteeliini consists of track infrastructure, including rails, sleepers, and ballast, and associated equipment such as signaling systems, power supply where electrified, and stations, yards, or passing sidings. It links two or more terminal points, such as stations or junctions, and may be a part of a larger network.

Key characteristics include track gauge, number of tracks, electrification, alignment, gradients, and signaling. Common variants are single-track and double-track lines, electrified and non-electrified lines, and passenger-only, freight-only, or mixed-traffic lines. The performance and safety of a raudteeliini are governed by national and international standards, with planning and maintenance coordinated by infrastructure managers and overseen by railway safety regulators. In many systems, the owner of the line is responsible for upkeep of track, signals, and stations, while separate train operators provide service on the line.

Technology on modern lines may include advanced signaling such as ETCS (European Train Control System) and other forms of traffic management, as well as digital asset management and predictive maintenance.

Railway lines have a long history, evolving since the 19th century through electrification, standardization of signaling, and modernization to increase capacity, reliability, and safety. In Finland and many other countries, raudteeliini represents a fundamental unit of the transport network that enables both passenger and freight services. See also Rail transport, Rail gauge, Railway signaling.