Travel Guide
New Train Will Connect These 2 European Countries For First Time In Decades
Apr
We’re unsure about you, however there is not any different means we might quite discover Europe than by practice. Though you might make an argument for sustainability, in actuality, it goes far past that:
Trains are usually extra dependable than finances 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 much more scenic and matches the Old World vibe.
Now, if you happen to’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. Both nations share a 345-mile border, but haven’t loved rail connections in over since, ahem, 1988.
There’s a purpose for that, which we’ll get to briefly, however first, here is the whole lot that you must know concerning the thrilling new route:
Finland To Sweden By Train
Starting June 2026, you can journey from Helsinki, the capital of Finland, through 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 a substitute for flying if you happen to’re planning to maneuver rapidly between cities, however it is a main improvement, nonetheless.
Prior to this announcement, passengers touring on this route might solely get so far as Tornio, a small city in Finland dealing with 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 at the moment 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, ensure you double-check the Entry Requirements that apply at your vacation spot upfront.
Why Haven’t Cross-Border Trains Launched Before?
It nonetheless will not be a ‘sit on the practice and experience throughout’ expertise, however as an alternative of arriving first to Tornio, then commuting to Haparanda, you may merely must stroll via the station constructing to change from the Finnish VR to the Swedish Norrtåg practice going to Stockholm.
The entire switch will take just a few minutes.
There is at the moment 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 underneath the Russian Empire:
The Finnish observe gauge is ready to the previous Russian customary of 1524mm, versus the standardized European 1435mm, which is utilized in Sweden. This means trains would simply derail in the event that they tried to cross the border.
With the reopening of the previous station in Haparanda, the place the Finnish and Swedish rail networks meet, on-foot transfers throughout the border will turn into rather a lot simpler.
What Does The Journey Look Like?
We’re fast-approaching launch month, but additional route particulars, together with stations it’s going to name at, timetables, and ticket costs, haven’t been launched. Based on the present, bumpier current route, nonetheless, we are able to 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 objective is to journey from Helsinki all the way in which to Stockholm, that is nonetheless a multiple-day journey involving a number of stops.
Of course, it is rather a lot simpler if you happen to’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 Daily Departures: 2:54 PM | 6:24 PM
Arrival Times: 8:36 PM | 00:16 AM (following day)
Est. Journey Time: 5h30
Average Price: $105–$190 (often cheaper if you happen to e book early upfront)
Stops (ranging from Helsinki):
- Pasila
- Tikkurila
- Tampere
- Seinäjoki
- Kokkola
- Ylivieska
- Oulu
You might want to keep in a single day in Oulo for the following leg.
LEG 2: Oulo → Tornio | Haparanda (Sweden)
2 Daily Departures: 5:08 AM | 7:50 PM
Arrival Times: 6:35 AM | 9:20 PM
Est. Journey Time: 1h30
Average Price: $16–$30
This is a direct practice to Tornio with no stops.
LEG 3: Tornio | Haparanda (Sweden) → Luleå
3 Daily Departures (From Haparanda): 07:11 AM | 1:47 PM | 6:49 PM
Arrival Times: 09:19 AM | 3:52 PM | 8:46 PM
Est. Journey Time: 1h57
Average Price: $30–$35
Stops (ranging from Haparanda)
- Kalix
- Boden
- Sunderby Sjukhus
- Luleå Notviken
- Luleå
LEG 4: Luleå → Stockholm (Night Train)
1 Daily 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
Average Price
- Budget 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 without doubt one of the most secure locations in Europe, having fun with a certified-safe Level 1 standing in response to U.S. authorities. However, not all European locations are the identical, significantly components of Sweden, the place crime has surged in recent times.
Please discuss with the Travel Advisories web page earlier than flying.
Break Up Your Trip
For these touring the complete extent of the route, in observe, 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? Easy-peasy. Just keep on the trian previous Tornio, and you will be arriving straightou to Haparanda’s newly-restored station.
Moving between every other intermediate factors, or any of the 2 capital terminuses on this multi-day route? That’s when it begins wanting both like a fancy, logistical nightmare, or the best, most enjoyable Scandinavian journey ever.
Wondering how secure Stockholm is to go to on the minute? Travelers 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’s a complete pilgrimage route we’re unsure we’re making an attempt anytime quickly, however… … if you happen to 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 through Belgium, France into Spain, and at last Spain to Portugal, be our visitor.
