Murmansk–Nikel Railway

Murmansk–Nikel Railway
Overview
Owner	Russian Railways
Termini	Murmansk Nikel
Stations	11
Service
Type	Railway
System	Russian Railways
Operator(s)	Russian Railways
History
Opened	1936
Technical
Line length	206 km
Character	Freight
Track gauge	1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) Russian gauge
Electrification	No
Operating speed	40 km/h

Murmansk–Nikel line
Murmansk Line to Kandalaksha Vikhodnoj Murmansk Line to Murmansk original line to Murmashi Tuloma River original line to Murmashi Tuloma to Lawna Pyayve Nyal to Zaozersk Titovka Luostari Arctic Railway to Nikel and Sodankylä Pechenga Russia Norway border Arctic Railway to Rovaniemi via Nikel Kirkenes to Skibotn via Lakselv

The Murmansk–Nikel Railway is a 206 km long railway between Murmansk and Nikel in Murmansk Oblast, Russia, primarily for freight from the nickel mine at Nikel, with the passenger service east of Kola currently suspended. The railway was completed in 1968 and is not electrified. A part was built 1936. In 1961 the line Kola - Pechenga was opened and in 1968 to Nikel.

Proposed expansion

The Norwegian Kirkenes World Port Group consortium has proposed connecting the Kirkenes–Bjørnevatn Line mining railway to the Murmansk–Nikel Railway at Zapolyarny, linking the Russian rail network to the Norwegian port of Kirkenes, to reduce port congestion at Murmansk. So far the Russians prefer using their own port, which has also been expanded.