Finland and Sweden will once again be connected by train this summer, after more than 30 years, with the resumption of passenger rail service between the border towns of Tornio and Haparanda. The new connection will provide Finland with its first passenger rail link to Sweden and, by extension, to the rest of the European network, and according to local media, the launch could take place at the end of June.
The resumption of passenger service on this route has both symbolic and practical significance. Symbolically, Finland will once again have trains crossing the border, after services to Sankt Petersburg were suspended in 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Practically, the new connection will allow passengers to travel between Finland and Sweden without a bus or car, using the historic station in Haparanda as a transfer point between Finnish and Swedish trains.
The border connection returns after more than 30 years
Currently, passengers can reach both sides of the border by train, but they must cross the border on foot, by bus, or by car. Although there is a railway line between Tornio and Haparanda, passenger services on this cross-border link were suspended in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Now, Finland and Sweden are preparing to resume service, including by restoring the historic train station building in Haparanda.
According to Sampo Kangastalo, development director for the city of Tornio, trains operated by the Finnish company VR will stop at Tornio C and continue on to Haparanda, where passengers will be able to easily transfer to the Swedish Norrtåg trains.
The difference in track gauge remains the technical key to the project
One of the reasons for the delay in this project is the difference in track gauge. Finland continues to use the 1,524 mm gauge, inherited from the period when it was part of the Russian Empire, while Sweden uses the standard European gauge of 1,435 mm.
For this reason, crossing the border does not involve direct, uninterrupted travel, but rather a transfer system in the Haparanda station area.
Finland is funding the launch of the service
The Finnish government announced last fall that it would allocate EUR 1.9 million for the launch of passenger service on the Tornio–Haparanda route in 2026. Finnish Minister of Transport Lulu Ranne said the new connection will support cross-border mobility, tourism, and resilience during times of crisis.
A record-breaking rail route within the EU
The new service also has a spectacular aspect for train enthusiasts. Railway consultant Jon Worth told Yle that, once the link opens, it will enable one of the longest rail journeys within the European Union: from Kolari in Finnish Lapland to Lagos in southern Portugal. The British press has estimated the route at approximately 5,000 km.
The connection also opens up a land-based alternative between Helsinki and Stockholm, which could be covered in just over 24 hours, even though, in practice, the ferry and the plane will remain faster or more convenient options for many travelers.
More than just a tourist novelty
Beyond records and symbolism, the project has a clear regional significance. The new link should provide cities in northern Finland, such as Rovaniemi and Oulu, with a rail connection to Sweden and onward to the rest of Europe, without relying on planes or ferries.
For the border region between Tornio and Haparanda, the project is also seen as a step toward a more integrated labor market and easier daily mobility between the two countries.
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