Rail Travel Info for
Finland
Finnish trains are spacious, comfortable and clean. The
scenery among the lines is beautiful, especially in Eastern Finland
where there is very many lakes. Because in most parts of Finland
density of population is low, Finland is not very well suited for
railways. Commuter services are rare outside Helsinki area, but there
are express train connections between most of the cities (see map). As
in France, most trains are coming or going to the capital city
Helsinki. There are also good express buss and
aeroplane connections.
Buses are in sometimes faster than trains
(e.g. Helsinki-Pori).
About traveling in Finland
Web-links
About train traveling in Finland
Safety
Going by railway is among the safest means of transportation also in Finland.
Most parts of the Finnish railway network are now covered by
Automatic Train Protection (ATP) to make going by railway even safer.
As crime is lower in Finland than in Central Europe, theft is very rare
on Finnish trains but take care of your personal valuables anyway. The
conductor or station officials have good English and Swedish language skills.
Train types and supplements
Finnish coaches are comfortable and clean. Seating in the second class
and first class coaches is open, 80 seats per coach.
First class is available on Pendolino and IC-trains, but it is not
worth the extra money. Card telephones have been removed, as everybody
has mobile phones.
Mobile phones work better is some areas of Pendolino and
lower level of double deck Intercity coaches.
Pendolino S220 Trains
Pendolino S220 trains will speed passenger trains to speeds over 200
km/h. Since 1995 in service between Helsinki and Turku, and now
on most routes they cut travel times in Southern Finland. Thanks
to their tilt technology and light weight, they can run fast also on old
lines. See my Pendolino S220 page.
Ticket for Pendolino is more expensive as for Intercity
and includes seat reservation if bought from station.
Seats can be reserved from all stations from 8 weeks to 5
minutes before departure. If you buy your ticket in Pendolino
it costs EUR 6 more. Trains have café with telephone booth
and two places for disabled persons.
Intercity Trains
InterCity
trains have the newest rolling stock on white-red livery with 2+2
seating in 2nd class. All Intercity trains have also double-decker
coaches.
Ticket for Intercity is more expensive as for Express trains
and includes seat reservation if bought beforehand from station.
Seats can be reserved from all stations from 8 weeks to 5 minutes before
departure. If you buy your ticket in Intercity it costs EUR 3
more, if ticket counter is open at the station when the train leaves.
InterCity trains are a bit faster than express trains. Maximal
speed for Intercity is 160 km/h. They
have always 1st class.
Restaurant carriage has café and restaurant with service.
IC2-trains do not have restaurant carriage, but sales cart going through
the train.
See also VRs info.
Express Trains
Express trains have blue livery. Average traveling speed is about 80-100
km/h, with maximal speed normally 120-140 km/h. Some trains have self-service
restaurant and telephone. Many trains have a special coach for families
with small children (the family car with a fully equipped playroom). Many
trains have video coach too.
Ticket for express train is more expensive as for commuter trains
and includes seat reservation if bought from station.
Seats can be reserved from all stations from 8 weeks to 5 minutes before
departure. If you buy your ticket in train it costs EUR 3
more, if ticket counter is open at the station when the train leaves.
Since 30th May 2004 Express trains do not have 1st class any more.
Regional Trains
Regional trains have only 2nd class in 3+2 seating. Coaches have red
or white livery. Seats cannot be reserved. On Helsinki commuter services ticket can
only be bought in a ticketing compartment marked by signs.
Night Trains
Cheapest
hotel in Finland! On night trains, sleeping-cars are available
with one, two or three beds per compartment. In Finland there is no
couchettes, because sleeping-cars are very reasonably
priced. Supplement is in three bed compartment normally only EUR 12
per person. If you want one bed compartment you have to buy 1st class
ticket. In your compartment there are key cards
suitable for your compartment only so you can go to the café
car before sleeping. But take your tickets with you so conductor can
see them. After getting in, you can agree with conductor if you need
to be waked up. You can go to the
café car for breakfast.
See VRs
info too. On many night trains it is also possible
to take your car with you. Between Helsinki and Rovaniemi there is
double decker sleeping cars with shower on corridor or in compartment (upstairs).
Prices may change.
Traveling speed
The traveling speed including all stops is between 80 and 100 km/h. Maximum
allowed speed in Finland is at the moment 220 km/h on line Kerava-Lahti with Pendolino S220
trains. On lines Helsinki-Turku
and Helsinki-Tampere maximum tempo is 200 km/h. On other
lines maximum speed is 160, 140 or 120 km/h.
Info on international tickets and railpasses
The Interrail, Scanrail, Eurail and Euro Domino passes are valid in Finland.
VR has
more info.
Domestic tickets
Normal tickets are reasonably priced, bus tickets costing about the
same. Discounts exists for e.g. children, groups, families and pensioner.
Long journeys are proportionately cheaper than short
journeys, but on very long journeys cheap airlines may be a better
choice.
See also
VRs info.
Traveling Links
Travel guides
Newsgroups
Bus and Aeroplane Info
25372 visits since 14.8.2002-8.3.2007.
Note that I don't work for VR.
Feedback welcomed at 
.
Copyright Kimmo Kotimäki 2007. Copying is allowed only by
written agreement with the author, except for private use.
Created Mon, Oct 6 1997 Kimmo Kotimäki. Updated
Sun, Apr 13 2008
Kimmo Kotimäki.
Cheapest
hotel in Finland! On night trains, sleeping-cars are available
with one, two or three beds per compartment. In Finland there is no
couchettes, because sleeping-cars are very reasonably
priced. Supplement is in three bed compartment normally only EUR 12
per person. If you want one bed compartment you have to buy 1st class
ticket. In your compartment there are key cards
suitable for your compartment only so you can go to the café
car before sleeping. But take your tickets with you so conductor can
see them. After getting in, you can agree with conductor if you need
to be waked up. You can go to the
café car for breakfast.
See VRs
info too. On many night trains it is also possible
to take your car with you. Between Helsinki and Rovaniemi there is
double decker sleeping cars with shower on corridor or in compartment (upstairs).