Oulu–Kontiomäki railway
Encyclopedia
Oulu–Kontiomäki railway is a railway line
in Finland
. The line is owned and maintained by the Finnish Rail Administration
. It connects the city of Oulu
to station at Kontiomäki, which is a junction of five railway lines in Paltamo
municipality, approximately 26 kilometres (16.2 mi) north from the city of Kajaani
. The line is single-tracked and electrified with a total length of 166.1 kilometres (103.2 mi). The traffic is controlled via centralized traffic control
by the operator located in Oulu rail traffic control center at Oulu railway station
. The line follows the south shore of Oulu River.
The electrification was taken in commercial service on December 1, 2006, the power was turned on on October 1, 2006. First commercial electric-powered trains ran on November 1, 2006. The maximum allowed speed is 120 kilometres per hour (74.6 mph) in passenger service, and 100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph) in freight service. Passenger service speeds will be raised to 140 kilometres per hour (87 mph) once the necessary precautions regarding level crossing
safety have been completed and approved.
Centralized traffic control
was completed in 1998.
s. Most of the traffic is freight traffic originating at Kontiomäki, Uimaharju (on Joensuu–Kontiomäki line) and Vartius. The only operator is the national rail operator VR
. There are eight daily passenger trains (four in each direction).
The line is most noted for the presence of heavy taconite
unit trains. These trains originate in Kostomuksha
, Russia
, and terminate in Kokkola
, Finland
, where the ore is transloaded in to bulk ships. Previously taconite train also ran to Rautaruukki
steel mill
in Raahe
, but this traffic ceased early in 2007, when Rautaruukki decided to order the taconite from LKAB
in Sweden
.
via Kontiomäki in 1926. After this eastern segment was built, a line east from Oulu to Muhos
was taken in service in 1927, followed by Muhos
to Utajärvi
in 1928, and Utajärvi
to Vaala
in 1929. The last segment, joining Vaala
with Paltamo
was completed in 1930.
On May 23, 1995, an avoiding line was taken in service at Kontiomäki. This enabled the traffic between Vartius and Oulu
to bypass the Kontiomäki station, without the need to perform run-around moves at Kontiomäki yard.
. At Kontiomäki the line connects with two main lines: Iisalmi–Kontiomäki and Joensuu–Kontiomäki, as well as with freight-only branch lines Kontiomäki–Vartius and Kontiomäki–Ämmänsaari.
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. The line is owned and maintained by the Finnish Rail Administration
Finnish Rail Administration
The Finnish Transport Agency is responsible for the maintenance of Finland's transport system. The Agency took over from the Finnish Rail Administration and parts of the work of the former Finnish Maritime Administration and the Finnish Road Administration on 1 January 2010.- Rail...
. It connects the city of Oulu
Oulu
Oulu is a city and municipality of inhabitants in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the most populous city in Northern Finland and the sixth most populous city in the country. It is one of the northernmost larger cities in the world....
to station at Kontiomäki, which is a junction of five railway lines in Paltamo
Paltamo
Paltamo is a municipality of Finland.It is part of the Kainuu region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is. There are two built-up areas in the municipality: Kontiomäki and Paltamo...
municipality, approximately 26 kilometres (16.2 mi) north from the city of Kajaani
Kajaani
Kajaani is a town and municipality in Finland.It is the capital of the Kainuu region. It is located southeast of Oulujärvi , which drains to the Gulf of Bothnia along the Oulujoki . There are inhabitants and city surface area is of which is water. The population density is . The town is...
. The line is single-tracked and electrified with a total length of 166.1 kilometres (103.2 mi). The traffic is controlled via centralized traffic control
Centralized traffic control
Centralized traffic control is a form of railway signalling that originated in North America and centralizes train routing decisions that were previously carried out by local signal operators or the train crews themselves. The system consists of a centralized train dispatcher's office that...
by the operator located in Oulu rail traffic control center at Oulu railway station
Oulu railway station
The Oulu Railway Station is located in the centre of Oulu, Finland, in the city district of Vaara. All trains are operated by VR. Nearby is the bus station for long-distance buses....
. The line follows the south shore of Oulu River.
The electrification was taken in commercial service on December 1, 2006, the power was turned on on October 1, 2006. First commercial electric-powered trains ran on November 1, 2006. The maximum allowed speed is 120 kilometres per hour (74.6 mph) in passenger service, and 100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph) in freight service. Passenger service speeds will be raised to 140 kilometres per hour (87 mph) once the necessary precautions regarding level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
safety have been completed and approved.
Centralized traffic control
Centralized traffic control
Centralized traffic control is a form of railway signalling that originated in North America and centralizes train routing decisions that were previously carried out by local signal operators or the train crews themselves. The system consists of a centralized train dispatcher's office that...
was completed in 1998.
Traffic
Traffic consists of a mixture of passenger and freight trainFreight train
A freight train or goods train is a group of freight cars or goods wagons hauled by one or more locomotives on a railway, ultimately transporting cargo between two points as part of the logistics chain...
s. Most of the traffic is freight traffic originating at Kontiomäki, Uimaharju (on Joensuu–Kontiomäki line) and Vartius. The only operator is the national rail operator VR
VR Group
VR or VR Group is a state-owned railway company in Finland. Formerly known as Suomen Valtion Rautatiet until 1922 and Valtionrautatiet / Statsjärnvägarna until 1995...
. There are eight daily passenger trains (four in each direction).
The line is most noted for the presence of heavy taconite
Taconite
Taconite is a variety of iron formation, an iron-bearing sedimentary rock, in which the iron minerals are interlayered with quartz, chert, or carbonate...
unit trains. These trains originate in Kostomuksha
Kostomuksha
Kostomuksha is a town located in the northwestern part of the Republic of Karelia, Russia, from the border with Finland and on the shore of lake Kontoki. Population:...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and terminate in Kokkola
Kokkola
Kokkola is a town and municipality of Finland.The town is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Ostrobothnia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, where the ore is transloaded in to bulk ships. Previously taconite train also ran to Rautaruukki
Rautaruukki
Rautaruukki Corporation is a Finnish company, headquartered in Helsinki, which manufactures and supplies metal-based components and systems to the construction and engineering industries....
steel mill
Steel mill
A steel mill or steelworks is an industrial plant for the manufacture of steel.Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. It is produced in a two-stage process. First, iron ore is reduced or smelted with coke and limestone in a blast furnace, producing molten iron which is either cast into pig iron or...
in Raahe
Raahe
Raahe is a town and municipality of Finland. Founded by Swedish statesman and Governor General of Finland Count Per Brahe the younger in 1649, it is one of 10 historic wooden towns remaining in Finland. Examples of other Finnish historic wooden towns are Kaskinen , Old Rauma, Porvoo , Jakobstad ,...
, but this traffic ceased early in 2007, when Rautaruukki decided to order the taconite from LKAB
LKAB
LKAB is a Swedish mining company. The company mines iron ore at Kiruna and at Malmberget in northern Sweden. The company was established in 1890, and has been 100% state-owned since the 1950s...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
History
The line was built in five sections over the course of four years. First segment to be taken in service was a line from Vuokatti to PaltamoPaltamo
Paltamo is a municipality of Finland.It is part of the Kainuu region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is. There are two built-up areas in the municipality: Kontiomäki and Paltamo...
via Kontiomäki in 1926. After this eastern segment was built, a line east from Oulu to Muhos
Muhos
Muhos is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Oulu half an hour drive on route 22 from the city of Oulu, the capital of Northern Finland and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
was taken in service in 1927, followed by Muhos
Muhos
Muhos is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Oulu half an hour drive on route 22 from the city of Oulu, the capital of Northern Finland and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
to Utajärvi
Utajärvi
Utajärvi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is...
in 1928, and Utajärvi
Utajärvi
Utajärvi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is...
to Vaala
Vaala
Vaala is a municipality in Finland. It is located in the Kainuu region. Established in 1954 , the municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
in 1929. The last segment, joining Vaala
Vaala
Vaala is a municipality in Finland. It is located in the Kainuu region. Established in 1954 , the municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
with Paltamo
Paltamo
Paltamo is a municipality of Finland.It is part of the Kainuu region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is. There are two built-up areas in the municipality: Kontiomäki and Paltamo...
was completed in 1930.
On May 23, 1995, an avoiding line was taken in service at Kontiomäki. This enabled the traffic between Vartius and Oulu
Oulu
Oulu is a city and municipality of inhabitants in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the most populous city in Northern Finland and the sixth most populous city in the country. It is one of the northernmost larger cities in the world....
to bypass the Kontiomäki station, without the need to perform run-around moves at Kontiomäki yard.
Connections with other lines
Oulu–Kontiomäki line connects with Seinäjoki–Oulu main line (Pohjanmaan rata) and Oulu–Tornio main line at OuluOulu
Oulu is a city and municipality of inhabitants in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the most populous city in Northern Finland and the sixth most populous city in the country. It is one of the northernmost larger cities in the world....
. At Kontiomäki the line connects with two main lines: Iisalmi–Kontiomäki and Joensuu–Kontiomäki, as well as with freight-only branch lines Kontiomäki–Vartius and Kontiomäki–Ämmänsaari.