Most northerly rail line in Europe

[Nacht-Zug-Fahr]

Good evening folks,

I'm itching to do the most northerly train station in Europe when conditions allow, any idea where this location would be? I think Murmansk in Russia ?

 

[GNERman]

I don't know for certain that it's the most northerly in Europe...but Narvik in Norway was the first I could think of.

 

[etr221]

Good evening folks,

I'm itching to do the most northerly train station in Europe when conditions allow, any idea where this location would be? I think Murmansk in Russia ?

It's actually Pechenga, according to my Russian rail atlas - about 140km down a branch from Kola, a bit south of Murmansk, on the Russian October railway. I went on on LCGB tour, sometime in the 90s - it is very much the Wild North up there: not exactly a tourist area. Whether non-Russians are allowed there, or how far they can get I don't know, Pechenga is I believe a fairly important naval base - as an organised group, I think there was a fair amount of negotiation to to get us to the most northerly point possible. And if you don't speak Russian, you might struggle.

Narvik (and the line thereto - I'm not sure quite where it's most northerly point is) may not be as far north, but probably more practicable!

 

[Nacht-Zug-Fahr]

Interesting, thanks

 

[Gloster]

It is possible that Bjørnfjell station on the line to Narvik is fractionally further north. It is true that Narvik is as far as you can get.

 

[JonasB]

Actually there is small isolated railway in Norway that is the northernmost railway in Europe (before 2010, the world). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkenes–Bjørnevatn_Line But I'm not sure how much it is used today.

The Narvik-Kiruna line runs east-west, but Narvik is actually the northernmost station on the line. Closely followed by Björnfjell and Vassijaure.

 

[Nacht-Zug-Fahr]

I think its mineral only, but interesting nether the less

 

[JonasB]

I think its mineral only, but interesting nether the less

Yes, it has always been freight only and the line is owned by the mining company.

 

[Gloster]

The eight and a half km mineral line from Kirkenes to Bjørnevatn has been out of use since 2015, but I believe it has been maintained, although the sole loco is now used for track maintenance on the Ofotbanen to Narvik. I believe that ownership of the mining company has recently changed hands and mining may soon restart.

 

[MarcVD]

If we venture into railways with no passenger service, then the correct answer is the russian line to Bonavenkovo, a line that does not belong to RZD but to gasprom, that has been built to serve gaz fields in the area. It sees passenger trains for gazprom employees, but I doubt other people, and certainly foreigners, could obtain authorization to board. It starts from Obskaya, not far from Labitnangi, the current RZD terminus on the river Ob. As far as I know, the line is currently pushed even further North. This is on the Yamal peninsula, not far ffrom the place where Tsar Bomba was detonated some 60 years ago...

 

[hexagon789]

I believe Chris Tarrant went to the 'supposed' most northerly station in Europe, which I believe was in Russia, on one of the episodes of Extreme Railway Journeys.

Can't remember where it was but I think it was a line built for the gas fields of the North as MarcVD outlined.

 

[JonasB]

If we venture into railways with no passenger service, then the correct answer is the russian line to Bonavenkovo, a line that does not belong to RZD but to gasprom, that has been built to serve gaz fields in the area.

Bovanenkovo is not in Europe though.

 

[johnnychips]

Bovanenkovo is not in Europe though.

Agreed - it is east of the Urals.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

So not the North Pole Depot / North Pole Junction then?

 

[MotCO]

So not the North Pole Depot / North Pole Junction then?

No, I thought it was Watford

 

[hermit]

The most northerly railway of all used to be the line serving the coal mines at Ny-Ålesund on Spitsbergen. One of the locomotives and some wagons are still there.

 

[rf_ioliver]

Good evening folks,

I'm itching to do the most northerly train station in Europe when conditions allow, any idea where this location would be? I think Murmansk in Russia ?

Kolari and Kemijärvi are Finland's northernmost but are both south of Narvik in Norway. You could try Mellunmäki in Helsinki for the northernmost metro station and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport Station as the northernmost underground railway station. Wikipedia has handy list that might be useful https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_northernmost_items#Transportation

 

[jamesontheroad]

Good evening folks,

I'm itching to do the most northerly train station in Europe when conditions allow, any idea where this location would be? I think Murmansk in Russia ?

Now that everyone has pitched in, it seems that the northernmost railways are in Russia (and/or closed to casual travellers).

Since even a short visit to Russia requires a visa, I’ll assume you’d prefer Europe.

Narvik to Stockholm on the famous Norrland night train would tick off Bjørnfell station and the northernmost station and track in EEA/EU/Western Europe. Abisko near Bjørnfell is a fine place to stop and stay in the wonderful tourist station overlooking Lake Torneträsk. Go in the winter and hopefully you’ll see the northern lights. The train crosses the Arctic Circle near Gällivare, which is also the northern terminus of the Inlandsbanan, for an a different route south than that taken by the train to Stockholm.

Alternatively, from 1 April 2021, you can get off in Boden and catch the new Norrtåg service on the new alignment of the railway to Haparanda. From there you can walk to the Haparanda-Tornio border and take a bus to Kemi in Finland, or walk over to the suburban Tornio-Itäinen station to catch the thrice-weekly (?) train to Kolari. You could then tick off the northernmost stations in Norway, Sweden AND Finland in one trip! Turn right around and then take the sleeper to Helsinki, or maybe change in Kemi for Rovaniemi.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Actually there is small isolated railway in Norway that is the northernmost railway in Europe (before 2010, the world). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkenes–Bjørnevatn_Line But I'm not sure how much it is used today.

I remember 'discovering' this one when still in use in the mid-80s, going over a level crossing when arriving in Kirkenes by bus (a full day journey from Rovaniemi in Finland with two changes en route) to catch the Coastal Steamer southwards next day, certainly the most northerly in Western Europe.

The most northerly railway of all used to be the line serving the coal mines at Ny-Ålesund on Spitsbergen. One of the locomotives and some wagons are still there.

Although I had already seen a photograph of these I was able to see and take my own photograph of these on a cruise visit in 2004, another highlight of which was seeing an Arctic Fox ushering it's cubs out of the way of visiting humans. Sadly no sighting of Polar Bears but the icebergs were interesting to see even if they were only very small.

I have also seen a plinthed loco. in Reykjavik, Iceland, a survivor from a contractors railway.

 

[philthetube]

The most northerly railway of all used to be the line serving the coal mines at Ny-Ålesund on Spitsbergen. One of the locomotives and some wagons are still there.

And it is sat on track, although only the length of the train, does this count as the thread title does not mention functioning.

 

[pitdiver]

This makes an interesting viewing.

 

[themiller]

I have also seen a plinthed loco. in Reykjavik, Iceland, a survivor from a contractors railway.

The one that’s plinthed is normally taken away and stored during the winter. It’s sister is on display in a museum in Reykjavik which is closed during the winter. They were used in the construction of the harbour at Reykjavik. I have a photo of Minor and another of the vacant plinth but don’t have access at the moment because of a house move. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/124948-minør-a-reykjavík-harbour-railway-loco/