On 17 April 1885, the Diet of Finland decided to build the line via Kouvola, Mikkeli, Pieksämäki and Suonenjoki to Kuopio.

The section first completed was the one between the stations of Mikkeli and Kuopio in 1888, but the Senate did not give permission for traffic to begin.

[1] In 1900, the Diet made the decision to extend the Savonian line from Kuopio via Iisalmi to Kajaani.

One of the largest construction projects was the bridge and embankment connection over river Kallavesi, the Kallansillat [fi].

[6] VR Group operates long-distance services with InterCity and Pendolino type rolling stock on the Savonian railway.