Finland and Sweden restored cross-border passenger rail services on Monday, 10 August, when the first scheduled VR train from Oulu crossed the border to Haparanda, ending a 38-year break in passenger services on the route.
The first train left Oulu shortly after 5am and travelled through Kemi and Tornio before crossing the Tornio River into Sweden.
The service gives passengers a rail route from Finland into Sweden and onward towards Stockholm and other European destinations. VR will operate two return services between Oulu and Haparanda every day, with departures in the early morning and evening. The journey takes about one hour and 40 minutes.
Passenger trains between Kemi, Tornio and Haparanda last operated in 1988, when Finland withdrew the railbus service. Cross-border freight traffic continued after passenger operations ended.
Transport and Communications Minister Lulu Ranne, representatives of VR and Traficom, and officials from Oulu and Tornio travelled on the inaugural service.
Timetables do not yet provide connections for every service. VR told Finnish news agency STT that links with Norrtåg will improve during the autumn.
HT