NLC Ferry Ab Oy | Press release | 11.11.2026
A new emission-free transport corridor connects Finland, Sweden and Norway
With an electrified railway connecting the ports of Trondheim and Umeå, rail freight transport between Finland, Sweden and Norway is becoming a more realistic and sustainable alternative. The freight corridor consists of the ferry route between Vaasa and Umeå, the railway connection between the Port of Umeå and Trondheim, and maritime transport to and from the Port of Trondheim.
The Meråker Line has now been electrified, making it possible to operate freight trains with zero direct emissions between central Sweden and Trondheim. Freight flows in Scandinavia traditionally run along a north-south axis, with exports and imports primarily routed through the Baltic Sea and the Kattegat. However, there has been a lack of an environmentally friendly transport alternative across the Scandinavian Peninsula.
A completely new rail freight service between Umeå and Trondheim is therefore being planned. The train, powered by electric locomotives, will accommodate containers, semi-trailers and industrial goods. By connecting directly to the ports of both Umeå and Trondheim, the service will create an intermodal transport solution with seamless onward connections by sea. Exports to destinations such as the United Kingdom and Iceland will benefit from significantly shorter transport distances.
A joint project has been launched by OnRail, Wasaline, Kvarken Ports Umeå and the Port of Trondheim. Stakeholders in Finland, Sweden and Norway are working together to establish a new transport corridor linking east and west. OnRail is prepared to establish this cross-border rail service in cooperation with industry partners, cargo owners and freight forwarders.
An alternative to transport routes through the Baltic Sea has also become increasingly important in light of the changing security environment. Industries in northern Scandinavia are concerned that the Baltic Sea could be blocked in a future crisis or emergency situation. The cross-border corridor from the Trondheim Fjord via Meråker and Storlien has been portrayed in the media as a military corridor for the transport of personnel and equipment to Sweden and Finland. This means that the necessary railway rolling stock and expertise must be in place.
As OnRail launches a new freight train service between Trondheim and Oslo on 1 February 2027, this also creates the potential for a seamless rail connection from northern Sweden and Finland to the Norwegian capital. Such an alternative rail network would strengthen the links between our countries while providing businesses with greater redundancy and more transport options.
Photo: Christian E. Bergheim, Hamar Arbeiderblad
The EU regulatory framework governing environmental reporting and emissions in the transport sector has been significantly tightened in recent years through EU directives. The transport sector accounts for roughly one-third of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions, and several overlapping directives and regulations now impose strict requirements for measuring and reporting environmental impacts. Rail transport, powered by electricity and capable of operating without direct emissions, forms an important part of the solution.
Ongoing discussions with customers will influence both the future frequency and capacity of the rail service.
For more information, please contact:
OnRail: Henning Aandal, CEO. [email protected], +47 90 91 23 10
Wasaline: Tony Ehrs, Freight Director. [email protected], +358 40 768 1747
Port of Trondheim: Svein Kåre Aune, Business adviser. [email protected], +47 981 02 164
Kvarken Ports Umeå: Christer Nederstedt, Sales and Marketing Manager. [email protected], +46 70 597 82 86
Wasaline operates the daily ferry service between Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden. The crossing is the northernmost year-round international ferry route in the world, serving both passengers and freight. The modern hybrid ferry Aurora Botnia is powered by biogas and batteries. The Ferry has been awarded the Key Flag as a symbol of Finnish work. Wasaline is part of Stena Line.
Onrail is a Norwegian railway company operating cargo services to Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim, Åndalsnes and Narvik. Our trains replace tens of thousands of trucks a year. Our business has a beneficial impact on climate emissions and traffic safety.
Trondheim Havn IKS is an intermunicipal company owned by 14 municipalities in Trøndelag. The company manages and develops port areas and maritime infrastructure and facilitates freight transport, passenger traffic and maritime tourism. Trondheim Havn works towards the vision of “a port-strong Trøndelag”.
Kvarken Ports Umeå operates and develops the Port of Umeå, one of northern Sweden’s most important logistics hubs, providing efficient, safe and sustainable transport solutions for maritime, rail and road transport. Together with the Port of Vaasa, the Port of Umeå forms a central part of the Kvarken Corridor and contributes to strengthening trade, growth and sustainable transport across the Nordic region.
Port of Vaasa operates and develops the Port of Vaasa, one of Western Finland’s most important logistics hubs and the home port of the EnergyVaasa energy technology cluster. The port provides efficient, safe and sustainable transport solutions for sea, rail and road. Together with the Port of Umeå, the Port of Vaasa forms a key part of the Kvarken Corridor, helping to strengthen trade, growth and sustainable transport in the Nordic region.
About Wasaline
Wasaline operates the daily ferry service between Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden. The crossing is the northernmost year-round international ferry route in the world, serving both passengers and freight.
The modern hybrid ferry Aurora Botnia is powered by biogas and batteries. The Key Flag has been awarded to the ferry as a symbol of Finnish work. Wasaline is part of Stena Line.
