A new passenger rail service linking Finland and Sweden has begun operations, restoring a direct railway connection between northern Finland and the wider European rail network for the first time in nearly four decades.
The inaugural service departed from the Finnish coastal city of Oulu shortly after 5am local time on Monday, travelling towards the Swedish border.
As the double-decker train crossed the Torne River and arrived at Haparanda station in Sweden, it was welcomed by crowds waving Finnish and Swedish flags, marking the return of regular cross-border passenger rail services between the two Nordic neighbours.
The route had been suspended from the late 1980s into the early 1990s because of low passenger numbers and technical differences between the railway systems of Finland and the rest of Europe.
Finland uses a wider track gauge similar to that used in Russia, a legacy of the period when the country was part of the Russian Grand Duchy during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Finland is currently undertaking work to bring parts of its railway infrastructure into line with the European standard.
The new service will operate twice daily between Oulu and Haparanda, with the journey taking approximately 100 minutes. The route follows Finland’s western coastline before crossing the border into Sweden.
Passengers wishing to continue their journey southwards from Haparanda will have to change trains. However, the service significantly improves the prospects for longer rail journeys between Finland and the rest of Europe.
The restored connection means passengers could travel approximately 5,000 kilometres by rail from Portugal’s Algarve region to Kolari, Finland’s northernmost railway station — a journey believed to be the longest continuous rail route available in Europe.
The new link will also make it possible to travel between the Finnish capital, Helsinki, and Stockholm by train in around 24 hours, although passengers will need to change trains during the journey.
Finland’s Transport Minister welcomed the restoration of the cross-border service, saying it demonstrated that cooperation between Finland and Sweden was continuing to grow.
Elisa Markula, chief executive of Finland’s state-owned railway operator VR, said she hoped the new service would benefit from what she described as a “renaissance” in rail travel across Europe.
“Train travelling in all Europe is having a renaissance. Also in Finland, our passenger numbers are increasing a lot,” Markula told AFP.
The launch comes as European countries seek to strengthen cross-border rail networks and encourage passengers to choose trains as an alternative to air travel, particularly for journeys between neighbouring countries.
The new Finland-Sweden service is therefore being viewed not only as the restoration of a historic transport link, but also as part of a broader revival of international rail travel across Europe.
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