A new passenger train service connecting Finland and Sweden has officially launched, re-establishing a direct rail route between northern Finland and southern Europe for the first time in nearly 40 years. Shortly after 05:00 local time on 10th August 2026, a double-decker passenger train departed from the coastal Finnish city of Oulu, traveling across the border into Sweden.
As the inaugural rail link service crossed the Torne River, it was greeted by crowds of people waving Finnish and Swedish flags upon arrival at Haparanda station. The launch restores the historical route after operations were initially suspended in the late 1980s and early 1990s due to low passenger numbers and technical track incompatibilities between Finland and the rest of Europe. The introduction of this route marks a major operational update for the Finland Sweden rail link.
Track Standardization and Service Schedule
Finland’s rail network historically utilized the same track gauge widths as Russia, which are wider than the standard European system, a legacy from when Finland was part of the Russian Grand Duchy in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Work is currently underway in Finland to convert track widths to conform to European standards.
The new cross-border rail line runs twice daily along Finland’s western coast, taking 100 minutes to complete the journey between Oulu and Sweden’s border town. Travelers arriving at Haparanda station must transfer to a different train to continue traveling south through Sweden.
Connecting Routes Across Europe
The restoration of this rail link makes it possible to travel approximately 5,000 kilometers by rail from Portugal’s Algarve to Kolari, Finland’s northernmost station. This route is considered the longest continuous train journey in Europe. Additionally, the operational route enables a 24-hour train travel connection between the capital cities of Helsinki and Stockholm.
Finland’s transport minister noted that the return of the cross-border service demonstrates that cooperation between Finland and Sweden is continuously expanding. Elisa Markula, chief executive of Finland’s state-owned railway operator VR, expressed expectations that the line will benefit from broader trends in European rail travel.
