We’re unsure about you, however there isn’t any different means we might reasonably discover Europe than by practice. Although you may make an argument for sustainability, in actuality, it goes far past that:
Trains are usually extra dependable than funds carriers like Ryanair and easyJet, you do not danger getting charged upwards of $50 as a result of the wheels in your cabin baggage simply barely stick out previous the fitter, and let’s face it, it is simply way more scenic and matches the Previous World vibe.
Now, when you’re planning a Scanditrip this 12 months, you may need to maintain off on reserving these flights till you learn this.
Passenger trains are relaunching from Finland into Sweden. Each international locations share a 345-mile border, but haven’t loved rail connections in over since, ahem, 1988.
There is a motive for that, which we’ll get to briefly, however first, here is all the pieces it’s good to know concerning the thrilling new route:
Finland To Sweden By Practice
Beginning June 2026, you’ll journey from Helsinki, the capital of Finland, by way of the tundra-covered Lapland, all the way in which to Stockholm in Sweden, for the primary time in over 30 years.
Now, the journey is lengthy, and never precisely an alternative choice to flying when you’re planning to maneuver shortly between cities, however it is a main growth, nonetheless.
Previous to this announcement, passengers touring on this route may solely get so far as Tornio, a small city in Finland going through Sweden. From there, they must both take a taxi, or bus it some 1.2 miles into Haparanda, the neighboring Swedish city, earlier than boarding a Stockholm-bound practice.
As Finnish broadcaster Yle News explains, Finnish VR trains will now terminate at a soon-to-be-restored station in Haparanda as an alternative of Tornio. The constructing dates again to the early 1900s, and it is presently being refurbished to behave as a connecting hub for passengers to cross the border extra seamlessly.
If you are going to Europe within the close to future, be sure to double-check the Entry Requirements that apply at your vacation spot upfront.
Why Have not Cross-Border Trains Launched Earlier than?
It nonetheless will not be a ‘sit on the practice and journey throughout’ expertise, however as an alternative of arriving first to Tornio, then commuting to Haparanda, you may merely should stroll by the station constructing to modify from the Finnish VR to the Swedish Norrtåg practice going to Stockholm.
The entire switch will take just a few minutes.
There is presently a rail line linking the 2 cities. Regrettably, there’s an operational challenge that dates again all the way in which to the nineteenth century, when Finland was below the Russian Empire:
The Finnish observe gauge is ready to the outdated Russian customary of 1524mm, versus the standardized European 1435mm, which is utilized in Sweden. This implies trains would simply derail in the event that they tried to cross the border.
With the reopening of the outdated station in Haparanda, the place the Finnish and Swedish rail networks meet, on-foot transfers throughout the border will develop into quite a bit simpler.
What Does The Journey Look Like?
We’re fast-approaching launch month, but additional route particulars, together with stations it’ll name at, timetables, and ticket costs, haven’t been launched. Based mostly on the present, bumpier current route, nonetheless, we will make an informed guess:
The journey is roughly 458 miles, and even as soon as the hole between border cities are bridged, in case your aim is to journey from Helsinki all the way in which to Stockholm, that is nonetheless a multiple-day journey involving a number of stops.
After all, it is quite a bit simpler when you’re breaking apart the journey in components, otherwise you’re touring to and from every other intermediate factors alongside the way in which.
Let’s cut up it into 4 legs, beginning with Leg 1.
LEG 1: Helsinki → Oulo
2 Day by day Departures: 2:54 PM | 6:24 PM
Arrival Occasions: 8:36 PM | 00:16 AM (following day)
Est. Journey Time: 5h30
Common Value: $105–$190 (often cheaper when you guide early upfront)
Stops (ranging from Helsinki):
- Pasila
- Tikkurila
- Tampere
- Seinäjoki
- Kokkola
- Ylivieska
- Oulu
You will want to remain in a single day in Oulo for the subsequent leg.
LEG 2: Oulo → Tornio | Haparanda (Sweden)
2 Day by day Departures: 5:08 AM | 7:50 PM
Arrival Occasions: 6:35 AM | 9:20 PM
Est. Journey Time: 1h30
Common Value: $16–$30
It is a direct practice to Tornio with no stops.
LEG 3: Tornio | Haparanda (Sweden) → Luleå
3 Day by day Departures (From Haparanda): 07:11 AM | 1:47 PM | 6:49 PM
Arrival Occasions: 09:19 AM | 3:52 PM | 8:46 PM
Est. Journey Time: 1h57
Common Value: $30–$35
Stops (ranging from Haparanda)
- Kalix
- Boden
- Sunderby Sjukhus
- Luleå Notviken
- Luleå
LEG 4: Luleå → Stockholm (Evening Practice)
1 Day by day Departure: both at 5:00 PM or 9:10 PM (varies by schedule/day)
Arrival Time: both at 6:30 AM or 10:15 AM the next morning
Est. Journey Time: 13h00
Common Value
- Finances seat: $35–$70+
- Sleeper cabin: $130–$200+
Stops (ranging from Luleå)
- Boden
- Älvsbyn (generally)
- Umeå
- Örnsköldsvik
- Härnösand
- Sundsvall
- Gävle
- Uppsala Arlanda Airport
- Stockholm
Finland is likely one of the most secure locations in Europe, having fun with a certified-safe Degree 1 standing in response to U.S. authorities. Nevertheless, not all European locations are the identical, notably components of Sweden, the place crime has surged lately.
Please consult with the Travel Advisories web page earlier than flying.
Break Up Your Journey
For these touring the complete extent of the route, in follow, the journey from Helsinki to Stockholm takes between 3 and 4 days relying in your practice connections.
Going from Oulo to Haparanda in Sweden as a brief cross-border journey? Simple-peasy. Simply keep on the trian previous Tornio, and you will be arriving straightou to Haparanda’s newly-restored station.
Transferring between every other intermediate factors, or any of the 2 capital terminuses on this multi-day route? That is when it begins wanting both like a posh, logistical nightmare, or the best, most fun Scandinavian journey ever.
Questioning how secure Stockholm is to go to on the minute? Vacationers on the bottom are rating it at an 85/100 proper now on our Traveler Safety Index;
By the way in which, with the brand new Finland-Sweden connection, now you can journey from Helsinki, Finland all the way in which to bloody Lagos, Portugal, utilizing trains alone.
That is a whole pilgrimage route we’re unsure we’re trying anytime quickly, however… you recognize… when you would not thoughts braving the Finnish-Swedish stretch, then hopping on a practice from Stockholm to Copenhagen in Denmark, from there onwards to Germany, Germany into France by way of Belgium, France into Spain, and eventually Spain to Portugal, be our visitor.
