Finland‑Sweden Rail Link Restored After 40 Years

Wed Sep 09 2026 03:14:37 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A new double‑deck train service now links Finland and Sweden, re‑opening the cross‑border line and boosting regional connectivity.

A double‑deck train has started running from Oulu to Haparanda, the first cross‑border passenger service between Finland and Sweden in close to forty years. The line, which was halted in the late 1980s, was reopened after Finland upgraded its rail gauge to match European standards. Passengers travelling the 100‑minute journey can now connect onward to a southbound train in Haparanda, making a 24‑hour trip between Helsinki and Stockholm possible. The Finnish transport minister hailed the service as a sign of growing cooperation, while the VR chief executive anticipates a renaissance in European rail travel.

Finland‑Sweden Rail Link Restored After 40 Years

After a gap of nearly four decades, a new passenger train has begun operating between Finland’s Oulu and Sweden’s Haparanda, re‑establishing a historic rail link across the Arctic border.

Shortly after 05:00 local time (04:00 BST) on a Monday, a green and white double‑decker VR train departed Oulu and crossed the Torne River into Sweden. Upon arriving in Haparanda, the train was greeted by crowds waving Finnish and Swedish flags, a vivid reminder of the once‑frequent cross‑border traffic.

The line was originally suspended in the late 1980s to early 1990s because the Finnish rail gauge, inherited from its association with Russia, was wider than the European standard. Finland is now in the process of converting its track widths to match those used across Europe, enabling this service.

The journey itself takes about 100 minutes and follows the western Finnish coast before crossing the border. Passengers who arrive in Haparanda must transfer to a different train to continue southward through Sweden.

Once fully operational, the route will allow a continuous rail journey of roughly 5,000 km from Portugal’s Algarve to Finland’s northernmost station at Kolari – the longest train route in Europe – and will facilitate a 24‑hour trip between the capitals of Helsinki and Stockholm.

Finland’s transport minister expressed that the return of the cross‑border service reflects growing cooperation, while Elisa Markula, chief executive of state‑owned railway operator VR, hopes the service will be part of a broader renaissance in European rail travel, noting that passenger numbers in Finland are rising significantly.