A reopened cross-border rail link between Finland and Sweden has made it possible to travel roughly 3,100 miles (5,000km) by train across six countries, thought to be the longest train itinerary in Europe.
New Service Connects Oulu and Haparanda
The new service connects the Finnish city of Oulu with Haparanda in northern Sweden, restoring a passenger rail link that disappeared almost 40 years ago. From August 10, a total of 28 trains will run every week between the two cities.
The first train departed Oulu shortly after 5am local time on Monday, beginning a journey that takes passengers along Finland's western coast before crossing the Torne River and entering Sweden. At Haparanda, the arrival was marked by celebrations, with crowds gathering at the station and waving the flags of both countries.
Journey Details and Significance
The train operates twice a day, and the journey takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. The reopening is significant because passenger services between Oulu and Haparanda were stopped several years ago. Finnish railcar services to Haparanda ended in 1988, while the last Swedish passenger train left the town in 1992.
The new link means travellers can go on an extraordinary rail journey stretching from the Algarve in southern Portugal to Kolari in northern Finland. At around 5,000km, the journey is thought to be the longest possible train itinerary in Europe, crossing a total of six countries: Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Sweden and Finland.
Connections and Growing Interest
Rather than a single train travelling from one end of the continent to the other, passengers would need to make several connections as they cross the continent. The journey offers the chance to travel from the Atlantic coast of Iberia to the forests and Arctic landscapes of Finnish Lapland without taking a flight.
The new connection also makes it possible to travel from Helsinki to Stockholm by train in around 24 hours. The reopening comes as interest in long-distance train travel continues to grow across Europe.
Elisa Markula, chief executive of Finland's state-owned railway operator VR, said she hopes the service will benefit from a "renaissance" in rail travel across Europe. Markula told AFP: "Train travelling in all Europe is having a renaissance. Also in Finland, our passenger numbers are increasing a lot."
