Photo: Kilpissafarit

No Arctic Railway, you said? Let's make our own

With Lapland regional council this week rejecting the Arctic Railway project, local tourist provider Kilpissafarit in Finland’s northwestern arm decided to make their own variant, the world’s longest sledge-train.
May 21, 2021

ADVERTISEMENT

The final end to plans on building an Arctic Railway from Rovaniemi to Kirkenes isn’t a big worry for tourist companies in northernmost Finland.

“I guess the tourism will grow in a more controlled way when we didn’t get the railway,” says Jussi Rauhala with Kilpisssafarit to the Barents Observer.

“Most of our customers will arrive from to Kilpis from Tromsø, Norway,” he explains.

For fun, Rauhala and his colleagues made their own Arctic Railway train, a replacement that doesn’t need tracks. The 12-sledges snowmobile train crossing over lake Kilpisjärvi is the world’s longest of its kind, Jussi Rauhala smiles.

 

 

ADVERTISEMENT

The empty sleds could symbolize the challenges winter tourism is facing due to the pandemic.

“We have had a very challenging season this year mostly because of Covid-19. Now, when it seems the season is finally about to end, we decided to have a little fun,” Rauhala says.

Kilpiissafarit hopes for better times now as borders are about to reopen. A daily bus route from Tromsø to Kilpisjärvi will hopefully bring many customers to the creative tour operator.

 

Photo: Kilpissafarit.fi

 

ADVERTISEMENT

Sections
Travel

The Barents Observer Newsletter

After confirming you're a real person, you can write your email below and we include you to the subscription list.

Privacy policy