Finland-Sweden Passenger Train Resumes in Midsummer, Also Considering NATO Military Needs
Finland and Sweden have signed a cross-border railway operation agreement, with passenger train service between the two countries set to resume this summer after a 36-year hiatus. This marks the first time Finnish State Railways (VR) will operate trains across the border since suspending the Helsinki-St. Petersburg route in 2022. The railway link is strategically important for defense supply security, crisis resilience, and promoting cross-border employment, education, and tourism.
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Wu Qilin, Helsinki, 14th) Finland and Sweden signed a cross-border railway operation agreement last week. Passenger train service between the two countries, which had been suspended for 36 years, is expected to resume as early as this midsummer. This will also be the first time Finnish State Railways (VR) operates trains across the border since suspending the Helsinki-St. Petersburg route in 2022.
Finnish national broadcaster Yle reported that Finland and Sweden signed an agreement on the 11th, allowing VR trains to enter Haparanda, a Swedish border city, with Finnish permits, and Swedish trains can similarly enter Tornio, Finland, with their national permits. Sampo Kangastalo, Tornio Development Director, stated that the opening ceremony is expected to be scheduled "before Midsummer, around the end of June."
Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne emphasized that this railway connection has strategic significance for Finland: "It not only supports national defense supply security and crisis resilience but also helps promote cross-border employment, schooling, and tourism."
She expects this route to help form a cross-border labor market area in the Bothnian Arc region, opening up new opportunities for local businesses in goods and services. Ranne also revealed a personal reason: the Swedish border town of Haparanda was her home during childhood and adolescence until she returned to Finland in 1990.
Finnish railways use a broad gauge inherited from the Russian Empire era, with a track gauge of 1524 mm, which is 89 mm wider than the standard gauge (1435 mm) used in Sweden and most European countries.
Passengers need to transfer to Sweden's Norrtåg trains in Haparanda, but the design of Haparanda station simplifies the process; passengers only need to walk through a century-old brick station building to transfer to another platform.
After the opening, it will be possible to travel by train all the way from Algarve in southern Portugal to Kolari in the northernmost Finnish Lapland, a distance of about 5000 kilometers, setting a new record for the longest railway journey within the EU.
VR estimates that the number of passengers in the first year could reach 80,000; the initial plan is one train each on Fridays and Sundays. The overland journey from Helsinki to Stockholm will take about 24 hours, which is about 6 to 7 hours longer than the current cruise routes of Tallink Silja Line and Viking Line.
The strategic significance of this route extends to national defense. The Finnish Parliament allocated 20 million euros (approximately 746 million New Taiwan Dollars) last year for the preliminary planning of the "Rail Nordica" project, with the long-term goal of laying European standard gauge tracks alongside existing ones to strengthen the military transport capabilities of NATO member states.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre have discussed strengthening the military and crisis transport uses of cross-border railways in the Nordic region. The revival of this century-old railway has significance beyond mere tourism demand. (Editor: Hsieh Yi-hsuan) 1150414
(Central News Agency reporter Wu Qilin, Helsinki, 14th) Finland and Sweden signed a cross-border railway operation agreement last week. Passenger train service between the two countries, which had been suspended for 36 years, is expected to resume as early as this midsummer. This will also be the first time Finnish State Railways (VR) operates trains across the border since suspending the Helsinki-St. Petersburg route in 2022.
Finnish national broadcaster Yle reported that Finland and Sweden signed an agreement on the 11th, allowing VR trains to enter Haparanda, a Swedish border city, with Finnish permits, and Swedish trains can similarly enter Tornio, Finland, with their national permits. Sampo Kangastalo, Tornio Development Director, stated that the opening ceremony is expected to be scheduled "before Midsummer, around the end of June."
Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne emphasized that this railway connection has strategic significance for Finland: "It not only supports national defense supply security and crisis resilience but also helps promote cross-border employment, schooling, and tourism."
She expects this route to help form a cross-border labor market area in the Bothnian Arc region, opening up new opportunities for local businesses in goods and services. Ranne also revealed a personal reason: the Swedish border town of Haparanda was her home during childhood and adolescence until she returned to Finland in 1990.
Finnish railways use a broad gauge inherited from the Russian Empire era, with a track gauge of 1524 mm, which is 89 mm wider than the standard gauge (1435 mm) used in Sweden and most European countries.
Passengers need to transfer to Sweden's Norrtåg trains in Haparanda, but the design of Haparanda station simplifies the process; passengers only need to walk through a century-old brick station building to transfer to another platform.
After the opening, it will be possible to travel by train all the way from Algarve in southern Portugal to Kolari in the northernmost Finnish Lapland, a distance of about 5000 kilometers, setting a new record for the longest railway journey within the EU.
VR estimates that the number of passengers in the first year could reach 80,000; the initial plan is one train each on Fridays and Sundays. The overland journey from Helsinki to Stockholm will take about 24 hours, which is about 6 to 7 hours longer than the current cruise routes of Tallink Silja Line and Viking Line.
The strategic significance of this route extends to national defense. The Finnish Parliament allocated 20 million euros (approximately 746 million New Taiwan Dollars) last year for the preliminary planning of the "Rail Nordica" project, with the long-term goal of laying European standard gauge tracks alongside existing ones to strengthen the military transport capabilities of NATO member states.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre have discussed strengthening the military and crisis transport uses of cross-border railways in the Nordic region. The revival of this century-old railway has significance beyond mere tourism demand. (Editor: Hsieh Yi-hsuan) 1150414
FAQ
When will passenger train service between Finland and Sweden resume?
Passenger train service, which had been suspended for 36 years, is expected to resume as early as this midsummer.
What is the strategic significance of this railway connection for Finland?
It supports national defense supply security and crisis resilience, and helps promote cross-border employment, schooling, and tourism.