The train to Finland is running again - opening up new weekend trips

From Monday 10 August, Swedish and Finnish rail services will be connected in Haparanda. Norrtåg passengers will therefore be able to change to Finnish trains and continue towards Tornio, Kemi and Oulu. This is stated in a press release.

For the travel industry, Oulu in particular is of interest. The city, which has around 220,000 inhabitants, is Finland’s fifth largest and a regional centre for business, education and culture.

- Many people probably do not realise that such a large city is so close. With the new connections, Oulu will become a considerably more accessible destination for those who want to travel comfortably by train, says Joakim Berg, chief executive of Norrtåg.

Travel in the opposite direction will also get a boost. Finnish travellers will have an easier rail connection to Luleå and onwards on Norrtåg’s route network.

Services will be expanded step by step. From the start of operations, it will be possible to travel from Sweden to Finland in the evening and in the opposite direction in the morning. On 6 September, morning connections in both directions will be added on Fridays and Sundays - a timetable that is particularly suited to weekend trips.

From week 41, evening services will be expanded further, and at the timetable change on 13 December, the morning and evening connections are to be fully coordinated.

However, there is a practical limitation: Sweden and Finland have different track gauges, which means the trains cannot cross the border without a change. Travellers therefore have to change trains in Haparanda.

Initially, tickets will be sold separately for the Swedish and Finnish parts of the journey. At the same time, Norrtåg and VR are working to enable through bookings via the companies’ sales channels.

"By linking Swedish and Finnish rail services, we are creating new opportunities for people to travel, work, study and visit one another across the border. At the same time, we are strengthening the conditions for business and tourism throughout the region," says Joakim Berg.