In brief
A double‑decker VR train has reopened the rail link between Oulu, Finland and Haparanda, Sweden, the first interconnection in two decades. The 100‑minute journey crosses the Torne River and is greeted by eager crowds. Finland is modernising its track gauge to match EU standards, and the service opens a 5,000‑km route from Portugal to Kolari. Transport leaders see this as part of a wider renaissance in European rail travel, including 24‑hour journeys between Helsinki and Stockholm.
A double‑decker VR train departed Oulu, Finland at 05:00 local time to re‑establish a rail corridor that had shut in the late 1980s. After 100 minutes it hit Sweden’s Haparanda station, greeted by locals waving both Finnish and Swedish flags.
The corridor was stalled for almost 40 years due to low passenger numbers and mismatched track gauges – Finland still uses a 1522 mm gauge inherited from Russian rule, while European railways use 1435 mm.
Finland is updating its rails to the European standard, and the new service is now twice daily between Oulu and Haparanda. Passengers from Haparanda will need a connecting train to travel further south.
This link enables a 5,000‑km rail journey from Portugal to Kolari, the northernmost Finnish station, and a 24‑hour trip between Helsinki and Stockholm – a milestone for Nordic mobility.
Finland’s transport minister said the return of the cross‑border service signals growing cooperation, while VR chief executive Elisa Markula expects a “renaissance” in European rail travel, noting a sharp rise in passenger numbers across the continent.
Euro‑rail enthusiasts are buzzing as this service launches, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to air travel across the north of Europe.
