A new twice-daily train service has resumed between Finland and Sweden, re-establishing a direct rail connection for the first time in decades. The journey between the two Nordic neighbors now takes approximately 100 minutes, traveling along Finland's west coast before crossing the border. Passengers arriving in Haparanda, Sweden, will need to transfer to another train to continue their journey south.
This service is part of a broader expansion of rail travel in Europe, with Finnish state-owned railway operator VR noting a significant increase in passenger numbers. Elisa Markula, chief executive of VR, expressed hope that the service will benefit from a wider “renaissance” in train travel across the continent.
The route is also poised to facilitate what is believed to be the longest train journey in Europe, spanning approximately 5,000 kilometers from Portugal's Algarve region to Kolari, Finland's northernmost train station. Additionally, the service enables a 24-hour train journey between the capitals of Helsinki and Stockholm.
Finland's transport minister highlighted the return of the cross-border service as a symbol of growing cooperation between the two countries. Finland, which shares a border with Russia, has historically used a wider track gauge than the European standard, a legacy from its time as part of the Russian Grand Duchy. The country is currently in the process of standardizing its track widths to align with the rest of Europe.