A passenger gave birth to a baby aboard a VR train travelling from Helsinki to Vaasa on Tuesday evening, in a case the Finnish railway operator says has no known equivalent in recent years.
The birth took place aboard Intercity 49 during its journey north from Helsinki, VR communications manager Tiina Nummenmaa confirmed to Finnish media on Wednesday.
“VR warmly congratulates the family on this special moment,” Tiina Nummenmaa told Yle.
Train staff attended the situation and contacted emergency services. An ambulance was called to Seinäjoki railway station, where the parent and baby left the train, according to VR.
Ilta-Sanomat, which first reported the birth, said at least one fellow passenger helped the person giving birth. VR has not confirmed that detail and has declined to provide information about the circumstances of the delivery.
Nummenmaa said VR has procedures for medical emergencies aboard its trains, with employees working with emergency response centres and healthcare professionals when passengers require assistance.
The company said births aboard trains are rare. VR has no record of another such case in recent years, though Nummenmaa said the company was unable to establish whether a birth had occurred aboard one of its trains at some earlier point in its history.
The incident caused little disruption to other passengers. VR said the IC 49 service continued towards Vaasa without a major delay.
HT