A new cross-border passenger train service commenced operations between Finland and Sweden, marking the return of rail connectivity that had been absent since the late 1980s to early 1990s. The inaugural service departed from Oulu, Finland, early on Monday morning and crossed the Torne river into Sweden’s Haparanda station, where it was greeted by crowds displaying flags from both nations.
The original route was discontinued due to insufficient passenger demand and incompatibility between rail systems. Finland historically utilized the same track gauge as Russia, which is wider than the European standard—a legacy of the nation’s historical ties to the Russian Grand Duchy during the 19th and 20th centuries. Finland is currently undertaking efforts to realign its rail infrastructure with European specifications.
The new service operates twice daily on a 100-minute route that follows Finland’s western coastline before crossing the border. While passengers must transfer to another train at Haparanda to continue traveling southward, the connection enables an approximately 5,000-kilometer rail journey from Portugal’s Algarve to Kolari, Finland’s northernmost train station, constituting what is believed to be Europe’s longest rail route. The service also permits a 24-hour train journey between the capitals of Helsinki and Stockholm.
Finnish officials characterized the resumption as evidence of strengthening bilateral cooperation. Elisa Markula, chief executive of Finland’s state-owned railway operator VR, expressed optimism about the service’s prospects amid a broader expansion in rail travel across Europe, noting that passenger numbers in Finland have been increasing significantly.
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