Finnish ferry operator Wasaline, the Port of Trondheim, Kvarken Ports Umeå and rail operator OnRail have launched a joint project for an east–west freight route connecting Finland to Norway's Atlantic coast, Wasaline announced on Wednesday, November 11.
The proposed transport chain would combine the existing Vaasa–Umeå ferry crossing with a new electric rail freight service running from Umeå to Trondheim, followed by onward shipping through the Port of Trondheim.
The trains would carry containers, semi-trailers and goods for industry. According to the partners, customer discussions still under way will set the service's frequency and capacity. The connection remains at the planning stage.
"Exports to destinations such as the United Kingdom and Iceland will benefit from significantly shorter transport distances," the partners said.
The partners presented the corridor as an alternative to freight routes through the Baltic Sea and the Kattegat. They cited concerns among northern Scandinavian industries that the Baltic could be blocked in a future crisis.
The rail leg would cross the Scandinavian Peninsula via Meråker and Storlien. Electrification of the Norwegian section between Trondheim and the Swedish border at Storlien was completed in spring 2026. The Swedish network was already electrified up to the border.
Wasaline, which was acquired by Stena Line in February 2026, operates the Vaasa–Umeå route with the hybrid Ro-Pax ferry Aurora Botnia. The vessel offers 1,500 lane metres across two cargo decks.