Finland-Sweden Direct Train Service Resumes After Nearly 40 Years

For the first time in decades, Finland is re-establishing a direct train connection to Sweden, offering a new travel option for passengers heading west. Starting August 10, a permanent rail service will operate between Oulu in northern Finland and Haparanda on the Swedish side of the border.

The new route will feature two daily departures from Oulu, one in the morning and one in the evening. The journey to Haparanda takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. From there, travelers can connect to trains heading further into Sweden, with onward journeys possible to Stockholm and even as far as Lisbon, though these connections will require at least two changes and take approximately a full day.

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The journey will take about a day, says Juho Hannukainen, VR's director of new traffic.

Despite the new service, the difference in rail gauge between Finland (1524 mm) and Sweden (1435 mm) means passengers will still need to change trains in Haparanda. Sweden's standard European gauge is 89 millimeters narrower than Finland's. To accommodate this, Haparanda station features tracks of both gauges, and a special four-rail track crosses the Tornio River. Additionally, the electrification systems differ, preventing Swedish electric trains from operating in Finland.

Public funding is supporting the new Oulu-Haparanda service, as initial passenger numbers are not expected to cover all costs. Traficom is purchasing the train services from VR, with contributions from the Meri-Lapin development center and the cities of Oulu and Tornio. Tickets are currently affordable, with a one-way trip from Oulu to Haparanda costing around 12.50 euros, and the return journey from Sweden priced at 8.10 euros.

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Certainly local residents and travelers who appreciate low-emission travel,” Hannukainen speculates.