The rail network serving passenger traffic covers over 4.000 kilometers. A totally new line was opened in September 2006 between Kerava and Lahti. Completion of this direct line has speeded up train journeys, increased the number of services and improved connections. The largest reductions in travel times are evident in services to Eastern Finland. Train journeys from Helsinki to Kajaani, Kuopio, Mikkeli and Joensuu are up to one hour shorter, and journeys to Lahti, Kouvola, Imatra, Lappeenranta and Savonlinna roughly half an hour.

The border stations for passenger traffic are Helsinki and Turku for traffic to and from Sweden, Hanko for traffic from and to Germany and Vainikkala to and from Russia. From Helsinki and Turku there are several daily connections by boat to Sweden. There is also a ferry connection between Germany and Finland: Superfast Ferries operate between Hanko in Finland and Rostock in Germany all the year round. For those passengers who want to go by land to Sweden there is a bus connection from Kemi to Tornio and further to Haparanda on the Swedish side. Passengers to Russia are transported by train. The rail gauge is the same in Finland and in Russia but the trains stop at the border to change locomotives, since Finland and Russia have different electrical systems.

The fastest train in Finland is Pendolino, at a maximum speed of 200 km/h. High-standard InterCity trains offer excellent timetables on the most popular sections of line. Both train types are equipped with air-conditioning, electronic doors, possibility to listen to music or radio channels, mobile phone amplifier, separate smoking room, info-monitors or boards. Announcements on board are given in Finnish, Swedish and English.

VR’s new double-deck sleeping-cars have toilet and shower in the upper level compartments. At the lower level there is a common shower and toilet. The conventional older sleeping car compartments are equipped with hot and cold running water. The doors can be locked and opened with key-cards.

Long-distance trains in general have restaurant/buffet cars and public telephones on board. In most trains, there are facilities for allergic and disabled passengers.

When planning your journey, remember that distances in Finland are long. E.g. the distance between Helsinki and Rovaniemi is about 900 km. There are about six departures every day and you can choose between a day train (travel time about ten hours) and a night train (travel time about twelve hours). From a day train you can observe the changing scenery, but if you take a sleeper you can have a good night’s sleep and wake up refreshed near the Arctic Circle the next morning.

While in Finland, you are only a train journey away from St Petersburg and Moscow. Railway connections to the East are excellent. The Finnish train Sibelius and the Russian train Repin leave Helsinki daily for Vyborg and St Petersburg. The Tolstoi takes you to Moscow every night. Each train has a restaurant car. Border formalities are carried out on board the train. Eurail passes are valid in these trains until the border station of Vainikkala.

www.vr.fi