Kerava-Lahti Railway (Lahden oikorata) Lahti Direct Line

Kerava-Lahti Railway (Lahden oikorata) Lahti Direct Line

The Kerava–Lahti railway line or Lahden oikorata (Lahti direct line) is a railway line in southern Finland between the towns of Kerava and Lahti, which opened on 3 September 2006.

Kerava-Lahti Railway History

In 1990, the Ministry of Transport commissioned a study regarding the construction of a new line connecting Helsinki with eastern Finland, prompted by the capacity problems of the Helsinki–Riihimäki Railway. Three main routes for the new connection were proposed: Helsinki–Lahti–Mikkeli, Helsinki–Kouvola, and Helsinki–Kotka–Hamina–Luumäki. All three options were deemed superior to the alternative of simply upgrading the existing lines. The Kotka option was found to be the least economically viable of the three, while those of Lahti and Kouvola were found to be about equal in this respect. The study was completed in 1992, favoring the Lahti option.

The construction of the Kerava–Lahti railway line took four years and cost €331 million. At the time it was the first new passenger railway to be opened in Finland since completion of the Jämsänkoski–Jyväskylä line in 1977, reducing the journey time between Kerava and Lahti by 26 kilometres. Funding was provided by the Finnish government and the European Union, with the route forming part of the EU's "Nordic Triangle" TEN-T strategic transport route.

Kerava-Lahti Railway Services

The line is used as a shortcut for services from Helsinki to eastern Finnish cities including Kouvola, Kuopio and Joensuu, which all used the line to Riihimäki prior to the construction of the Kerava–Lahti line. The Z train of the Helsinki commuter rail also uses the line.

Kerava-Lahti Railway Future

Proposals exist to build a similar direct railway line from Helsinki Central to Kouvola via Helsinki Airport and Porvoo (known as Itärata), which would handle traffic to eastern Finnish cities such as Kuopio, Joensuu, Lappeenranta and Mikkeli, providing a shorter journey time between Helsinki and these cities than currently offered by the Kerava-Lahti line.

Kerava-Lahti Railway Stations

• Haarajoki
• Mäntsälä
• Henna

Kerava-Lahti Railway Overview

Kerava-Lahti Railway Locale: Southern Finland
Kerava-Lahti Railway Termini:
Kerava
Lahti
Kerava-Lahti Railway Stations: 3
Kerava-Lahti Railway Line Length: 75.7 km (47.0 mi)
Kerava-Lahti Railway Number of Tracks: Double track
Kerava-Lahti Railway Track Gauge: 1,524 mm (5 ft)
Kerava-Lahti Railway Electrification: 25 kV @ 50 Hz
Kerava-Lahti Railway Operating Speed: 120 to 220 km/h (75 to 137 mph)


Lahti-Kerava Railway (Lahti Direct Line) Route Map

to Kouvola
to Heinola to Loviisa
Regional road 167
Lahti
to Salpausselkä
Regional road 140
Hennala
Regional road 296
to Riihimäki
Hakosilta
Porvoonjoki
Regional road 140
Henna
Regional road 164
Sipilä
Regional road 140
Mäntsälä
Primary road 25
Mustijoki
Korvensuo
Keravanjoki
Haarajoki
Regional road 145
to Riihimäki
Kytömaa
Kerava
To Sköldvik/Porvoo
to Helsinki