Railway statistics: documentation of statistics
The documentation of the statistics describes how the statistics were compiled and what methods were used in the compilation. The data help interpret the figures of the statistics and evaluate their reliability and comparability. The quality report is based on the EU's SIMS model. The documentation also contains change releases describing changes in the statistics and possible specifying methodological descriptions.
If you are looking for statistical figures for these statistics, go to the statistics page: Railway statistics
Quality report
Data description (SIMS 3.1)
Railway statistics describe the Finnish track network, numbers of journeys by rail, volumes of transported goods and various performances of railway traffic. Statistics are compiled from data of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency and operators. Quarterly and more extensive annual statistics are published from the data.
Sector coverage (SIMS 3.3)
The railway statistics cover the situation of the Finnish railways well because the rail network is a closed system. The accuracy and reliability of the data is for the most part good according to international standards as well. Nearly all railway statistics are based on so-called full statistics.
Statistical unit (SIMS 3.5)
The statistical unit is rail section for the rail network and train locomotive and wagons for the performance.
Statistical population (SIMS 3.6)
The railway statistics are the basic statistics of the Finnish railways, where the state of the railways is described by time series and rail section. The statistics contain data on the tracks, rolling stock, rail traffic, passenger traffic, freight traffic, financing and accidents. The data cover the entire Finnish railway system.
Reference area (SIMS 3.7)
The data cover the entire Finnish railway system. The most important data can be described on the Finnish railway network regionally by rail section.
Time coverage (SIMS 3.8)
The railway statistics have been compiled since 1933 and prior to that, the railway statistics were issued as reports of the National Board of Railways from 1873 to 1932.
Unit of measure (SIMS 4)
The units of railway transport performance data are number, passenger, train-kilometre, locomotive-kilometre, vehicle-axle-kilometre, gross tonne-kilometre and gross tonne-kilometres hauled.
Reference period (SIMS 5)
The railway statistics are published annually by the end of August and they contain the final annual data concerning the previous year. Passenger and freight traffic performance is also published quarterly around three months from the end of the statistical reference quarter.
Classifications (SIMS 3.2)
The following classifications are used in the statistics:
- The national classification of goods
Also used for data delivered to Eurostat:
- NST 2007 Classification of goods
- UN's classification of hazardous materials
Concepts and definitions (SIMS 3.4)
Car
A car is a car without own engine attached to a train intended for the transport of either persons or goods by rail.
Gross tonne-kilometres
Total gross weight of the locomotive and the carrying stock of a train in tonnes X corresponding train-kilometres.
Gross tonne-kilometres hauled
Gross weight of the carrying stock of a train in tonnes X corresponding train-kilometres.
Length of line
Total length of main and secondary lines excluding sidings.
Locomotive
A railway vehicle with own engine for traction and pushing of trains.
Locomotive-kilometre
Distance of one kilometre covered by the locomotive.
Passenger transport performance
Total number of kilometres covered by passengers during a specific unit of time, usually one year. Unit passenger-kilometre.
Passenger-kilometre
A passenger-kilometre is a measurement unit describing the passenger carrying performance of some means of transport such as a passenger car, coach, train, boat, aircraft or any transport vehicle suited for the transporting of passengers. Two persons travelling five kilometres on board a vehicle generate ten passenger-kilometres. Transport kilometres multiplied by average number of passengers.
Railway
A railway that can consist of one or more tracks.
Track
A railway line intended for a railway vehicle consisting of a pair of rails.
Track length
Total length of main and secondary tracks including sidings.
Train
A train is a railway vehicle with a locomotive and a varying number of cars.
Train-kilometre
Distance of one kilometer covered by the train.
Vehicle-axle-kilometres
Number of axles of the vehicle of a train X corresponding train-kilometres.
Institutional mandate (SIMS 6)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Legal acts and other agreements (SIMS 6.1)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
The compilation of railway statistics is guided especially by Regulation (2018/643) of the European Parliament and of the Council on railway transport statistics.
Data sharing (SIMS 6.2)
The data are delivered to Eurostat quarterly, annually and at five-year intervals. The data are also delivered to other international bodies, such as the UN and the ITF.
Cost and burden (SIMS 16)
A total of 56 working days were used for the production of the railway statistics in 2024. The response burden of data providers has not been estimated.
Source data (SIMS 18.1)
Annual data on railway infrastructure and passenger and freight transport are obtained from the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency. Quarterly data on passenger and freight transport are collected directly from railway operators.
Frequency of data collection (SIMS 18.2)
For passenger and freight transport data are also collected quarterly, for all other data annually.
Data collection (SIMS 18.3)
Data related to the track derive from track databases. Data on passenger and freight transport are also collected direct from operators.
Data validation (SIMS 18.4)
The structure and logic of incoming data are checked. The data are compared with the data of the previous statistical period and the corresponding statistical period of the previous year. Quarterly data are compared with annual data.
Data compilation (SIMS 18.5)
The data of the railway statistics received by Statistics Finland are highly processed, so there is little processing of the data. Quarterly data are summed up from the enterprise level to the level of the railway system. In addition to summing, classifications are formed in the annual data.
User needs (SIMS 12.1)
Eurostat, the media, researchers and other national and international users need statistical data on the development of the railway system.
User satisfaction (SIMS 12.2)
Eurostat assesses the quality of data deliveries of railway statistics yearly. Finland has delivered the data on time and of good quality.
Overall accuracy (SIMS 13.1)
The railway statistics cover the situation of the Finnish railways well because the rail network is a closed system.
The accuracy and reliability of the data is for the most part good according to international standards as well. Nearly all railway statistics are based on so-called full statistics.
Non-sampling error (SIMS 13.3)
The data come to Statistics Finland from the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency and railway transport operators. Statistics Finland cannot influence possible errors caused by data providers' systems.
Processing error (SIMS 13.3.4)
The processing of the data involves manual work stages, such as entering figures, which exposes the process to typing errors. Errors have occasionally been observed in the format of the submitted data. Some of the submitted data are not structured, which heightens the risk of errors in automatic processing.
Quality assurance (SIMS 11.1)
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The European Statistics Code of Practice forms the basis for the common quality system of the European Statistical System.
The Code of Practice is based on 16 principles that concern statistical authorities' independence, accountability and the quality of the processes and data to be published.
The principles are in line with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics approved by the United Nations Statistics Commission and are supplementary to them. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Further information: European Statistics Code of Practice | Statistics Finland and Recommendations of the Advisory Board of Official Statistics of Finland | Statistics Finland
Quality assessment (SIMS 11.2)
The railway statistics cover the situation of the Finnish railways well because the rail network is a closed system.
The accuracy and reliability of the data is for the most part good according to international standards as well. Nearly all railway statistics are based on so-called full statistics.
Data revision - policy (SIMS 17.1)
Revisions – i.e. improvements in the accuracy of statistical data already published – are a normal feature of statistical production and result in improved quality of statistics. The principle is that statistical data are based on the best available data and information concerning the statistical phenomenon. On the other hand, the revisions are communicated as transparently as possible in advance. Advance communication ensures that the users can prepare for the data revisions.
The reason why data in statistical releases become revised is often caused by the data becoming supplemented. Then the new, revised statistical figure is based on a wider information basis and describes the phenomenon more accurately than before.
Revisions of statistical data may also be caused by the calculation method used, such as annual benchmarking or updating of weight structures. Changes of base years and used classifications may also cause revisions to data.
The reason why data in statistical releases become revised is often caused by the data becoming supplemented. Then the new, revised statistical figure is based on a wider information basis and describes the phenomenon more accurately than before.
Revisions of statistical data may also be caused by the calculation method used, such as annual benchmarking or updating of weight structures. Changes of base years and used classifications may also cause revisions to data.
Timeliness (SIMS 14.1)
The railway statistics are published annually by the end of August and they contain the final annual data concerning the previous year. Passenger and freight traffic performance is also published quarterly around three months from the end of the statistical reference quarter.
Punctuality (SIMS 14.2)
The data are released according to the target date.
Comparability - geographical (SIMS 15.1)
The data are comparable on the level of the entire Finnish railway network.
Comparability - over time (SIMS 15.2)
The data are well comparable over time. Comparable time series are available from decades ago. However, changes have been made to the classifications and definitions over the years and they are indicated in the notes to the tables in the section concerned.
The railway statistics have been compiled since 1933 and prior to that, the railway statistics were issued as reports of the National Board of Railways from 1873 to 1932.
Coherence – cross domain (SIMS 15.3)
The data of the railway statistics are comparable with the data published by the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency.
Coherence - sub-annual and annual statistics (SIMS 15.3.1)
Annual and quarterly statistics are coherent.
Coherence - internal (SIMS 15.4)
The data within the statistics are consistent.
Release calendar (SIMS 8.1)
Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data become public after they have been updated in the web service.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
Release calendar access (SIMS 8.2)
Statistics Finland's release calendar Future publications
Future publications of the statistics can be found on the page of the statistics at: Future publications of the statistics
User access (SIMS 8.3)
The data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may be processed at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise specifically stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer and copyright owner of the data. The terms of use for statistical data.
Frequency of dissemination (SIMS 9)
Annual data on railway statistics are published by the end of August on statistics website. The data contain the final annual data concerning the previous year.
Passenger and freight traffic performance is also published quarterly on statistics website. The data presented in the statistics are final.
News release (SIMS 10.1)
The release is published quarterly and annually on the home page of the statistics.
Online database (SIMS 10.3)
The database tables of the statistics can be found in the StatFin database.
Confidentiality - policy (SIMS 7.1)
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed. The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. Alongside the Statistics Act, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and the Finnish Data Protection Act are applied to the processing of personal data. Provisions on the confidentiality of data collected for statistical purposes are laid down in the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
The data are processed only by persons who need the data in their work. The use of data is restricted by usage rights. All persons employed by Statistics Finland have signed a pledge of secrecy, where they have obliged to keep secret the data prescribed as confidential by virtue of the Statistics Act or the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
Further information: Data protection | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)
Confidentiality - data treatment (SIMS 7.2)
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed in accordance with the requirements of the Statistics Act (280/2004), the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999), the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and the Data Protection Act (1050/2018). The data materials are protected at all stages of processing with the necessary physical and technical solutions. Statistics Finland has compiled detailed directions and instructions for confidential processing of the data. Employees have access only to the data essential for their duties. The premises where unit-level data are processed are not accessible to outsiders. Members of the personnel have signed a pledge of secrecy upon entering the service. Violation of data protection is punishable.
Further information: Data protection | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)