A fixed route over the Kvarken would make Finland a key player in global logistics
Although the natural land uplift in the Kvarken region will close the gap between Finland and Sweden in about 2,000 years, the Kvarken Council believes we shouldn’t have to wait that long. The cross-border cooperation platform connecting three Ostrobothnian counties with Västerbotten and Västernorrland in Sweden is assessing the possibility for the Nordic Connector – a fixed connection between Vaasa and Umeå. The specific structure and route, including the potential for a railway, are still under consideration.
“With a fixed connection, we create better opportunities for collaboration across borders. This is an investment in the future of the Nordics, which strengthens regional development, drives innovation, and supports the green transition,” says Rickard Carstedt, Chairman of the Kvarken Council.
For Nurminen Logistics, a leader in Nordic and Central European rail freight, the Nordic Connector would open up faster, more efficient trade routes. The company’s CEO Olli Pohjanvirta believes that the connection would not only create new growth opportunities for companies across the Nordics but also position Finland as a key logistics hub.
“If the connector becomes part of a larger land bridge between Europe and Asia, Finland’s logistics potential will increase dramatically. Infrastructure projects must be seen as strategic investments in competitiveness”, Pohjanvirta says.
As the demand for low-emission transport continues to rise, Pohjanvirta highlights the necessity for a combined road-rail solution.
The Nordic Connector is advancing step by step, with new opportunities being actively pursued to ensure continued progress. The aim is to develop sustainable financing models that blend public and private investments, making the project economically viable. Carstedt believes that now is the time to act.
“Dependence on single harbours poses a clear risk. We need to make sure our supply chains remain stable, secure, and adaptable in the face of uncertainty,” he states.
Nordic Connector and the next step
The next step in the process is to explore funding solutions and wider benefits for large cross-border infrastructure investments, such as Nordic Connector – a proposed fixed link across the Kvarken Strait, aiming to improve regional connectivity, integration and security of supply in the northern Nordics.
