Trains are running again between Finland and Sweden: rail service has resumed after 38 years

Finland and Sweden have resumed passenger rail service after a hiatus of nearly 40 years. The new service connects Oulu with the border town of Haparanda and provides a more convenient overland route between the two countries. Learn more about schedules, connections, and options for further travel throughout Sweden and Europe

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After a decades-long hiatus, passenger trains have resumed service across the land border between Finland and Sweden. The new service is important not only for border towns: it provides an additional route for travel between northern Finland and the Swedish rail network.

Passengers can travel from Oulu to Haparanda and then continue their journey toward Luleå, Bodens, Stockholm, and other cities in Sweden. In this article, we explain how the new route works, how long the trip takes, and what to keep in mind when planning connections.

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Finland and Sweden Have Resumed Cross-Border Passenger Train Service

On August 10, 2026, regular cross-border passenger rail service resumed between Finland and Sweden. Trains operated by the Finnish carrier VR began running to the Swedish city of Haparanda, establishing a direct cross-border connection that had been absent for nearly four decades.

The previous passenger rail service on this route ceased in 1988. Now, the route once again connects northern Finland to Sweden’s rail network and allows travelers to plan onward journeys within the country without having to take a flight or a ferry.

According to VR, there will be 28 weekly trips between Oulu and Haparanda, which amounts to two departures in each direction every day. Some trains also offer convenient connections to long-distance services bound for other cities in Finland.

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Oulu–Haparanda Route: How Trains Will Run

The new services connect the Finnish city of Oulu with Haparanda, Sweden, via Kemi and Tornio. Trains run daily, and VR operates a total of 28 trips per week. Times in the schedule are listed in local time, so it’s important to take into account the time zone difference between Finland and Sweden when planning your trip.

The main departures are as follows:

- Oulu → Haparanda: at 05:08 Monday through Saturday, at 06:50 on Sunday, and daily at 19:50

- Haparanda → Oulu: at 06:20 Monday through Saturday, at 08:54 on Sunday, and daily at 20:45

Trains stop at the stations in Oulu, Kemi, Tornio-Itäinen, Tornio, and Haparanda. Depending on the specific departure, the trip between Oulu and Haparanda takes approximately 1.5–2 hours according to the local schedule, and some departures connect with long-distance trains bound for Helsinki.

Tickets for this route can be purchased through VR. The carrier also advises passengers for whom Haparanda is the starting or ending point of their journey to check in advance the rules and documents required for crossing the Finnish-Swedish border.

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Where can you travel from Sweden after Haparanda?

Haparanda has effectively become a transfer point between the Finnish and Swedish rail networks. Upon arrival from Oulu, passengers can continue their journey on Norrtåg trains toward Boden and Luleå.

Main options for continuing your journey:

1. Boden — about 1.5 hours by train from Haparanda; this is an important rail hub with connections to trains heading north and south

2. Luleå — another key transportation hub in northern Sweden, from which you can continue your journey to the south of the country

3. Stockholm—from the Swedish part of the route, you can reach the capital by train, although such a trip requires transfers and takes a significant portion of a day

4. Narvik in Norway—routes north to the Norwegian coast are also available via Boden

According to Yle’s estimates, the overland journey between Helsinki and Stockholm via Tornio and Haparanda can take just over 24 hours. This is longer than the direct ferry between the capitals, but the new route makes it possible to travel entirely by train and combine the trip with visits to other cities in northern Sweden.

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Why is this new connection important for travel in Europe?

The reopening of the Oulu–Haparanda route is significant not only for Finland and Sweden. It effectively closes one of the gaps in Northern Europe’s rail network and makes it possible to establish overland routes between Finland, Sweden, and onward to countries in continental Europe.

For travelers, this opens up several new possibilities:

- Travel from Finnish Lapland to Sweden without a flight or ferry

- Combine Oulu, Tornio, Haparanda, Luleå, and other northern cities into a single itinerary

- Continue the journey by rail from Boden to southern Sweden or toward Norway

- Plan long overland routes between Helsinki and Stockholm with transfers

This route may be particularly interesting for those traveling through Scandinavia by train. Yle notes that once the cross-border section opens, passengers will be able to travel by rail from continental Europe to Finnish Lapland. At the same time, the new route should not yet be considered the fastest way to travel between major cities. Its main advantage lies precisely in the availability of a new overland option and the ability to combine several destinations in a single trip.

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We remind you! Popular European tourist destinations are becoming increasingly crowded, so travelers are looking for alternatives without the crowds. In 2026, attention is turning to countries that remain off the beaten path but offer unique experiences, affordable prices, and an authentic atmosphere. Read more about 5 European countries that are rarely visited by tourists.

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