This new service, established in collaboration with VÄTE Rail AB, will connect Haparanda and Umeå to Gothenburg, which hosts the largest port in the Nordic countries and Nurminen will set up a subsidiary there.
This railway link aims to improve the western transportation network and the supply chain's reliability, boosting the western coast of Finland's economic health and the competitive edge of northern businesses.
The process involves transporting freight via vessels from Finnish port of Vaasa in the west to Swedish Umeå. Subsequently, cargo will be transferred by rail to Gothenburg by VÄTE Rail, with added load that arrives by rail from the Swedish-Finnish border town of Haparanda in the north.
The establishment of this route is expected to offer various benefits, including diversified options and new commercial possibilities for manufacturers, shipping firms, and logistics services. Traditionally, cargo from northern Finland needed to traverse several hundred kilometers by road to Helsinki before being shipped. Finnish ports, lacking direct ocean-crossing services, have relied on feeder connections to Europe. The Haparanda-Gothenburg rail link shortens the distance to ocean connections, allowing businesses to cut both their environmental impact and export-related expenses, particularly those related to fuel. The regular, scheduled train services between Haparanda, Umeå, and Gothenburg will start in April.
Gothenburg's port provides a direct maritime pathway to America, the Far East, and principal European ports, facilitating further connections to Nurminen Logistics’ routes to Central Asia and China. The service supports the transportation of goods in containers and trailers.
The current global and geopolitical dynamics have impacted Finland's international accessibility, with a need to find alternative routes to the world with eastern border blockages. In response, Nurminen Logistics emphasizes its readiness to navigate these challenges, demonstrating resilience and adaptability by identifying new opportunities during uncertain times.
Nurminen Logistics also owns its railway branch in Finland, North Rail Oy, when buying out Operail’s Finnish operation that failed to success due to sanctions and drop of cargo shipments following the Russian attack on Ukraine.
