Finland to launch first cross-border rail link to Sweden in 30 years
Finland is set to introduce a new cross-border rail connection to Sweden this summer, marking the first time Finnish trains will operate outside the country since 2022.
Located between the cities of Oulu (Finland) and Luleå (Sweden), the €1.9 million project restores the Tornio–Haparanda rail link, re-establishing passenger train services across the Finnish-Swedish border for the first time in more than 30 years. The reopening will also reconnect Finland more directly to Europe’s wider rail network.
Once operational, the service will make it possible to travel by train from Kolari in Finnish Lapland—Finland’s northernmost station—through to southern Europe, potentially reaching Portugal’s Algarve. The route is being highlighted as one of the longest possible continuous rail journeys in Europe, at around 5,000 kilometers.
A key feature of the project is a planned Helsinki–Stockholm rail journey of roughly 24 hours. However, officials note that ferries or flights may still remain more practical and cost-effective for many travelers.
“The grand opening of this route will hopefully be just before Midsummer in late June,” said Sampo Kangastalo, development director for the Finnish border city of Tornio, speaking to Yle, Finland’s national broadcaster.
Finland is fully funding the project through state investment, with plans for continued support through the 2030s.
The twin border towns of Tornio (Finland) and Haparanda (Sweden) are central to the initiative. While rail infrastructure has long existed between the two, passenger services were discontinued in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Since then, travelers have had to cross the border on foot or by road between the nearest train stations.
Simple transfer inside Haparanda station
Under the new system, Finnish VR trains will terminate at Tornio C, while Swedish Norrtåg services will operate from Haparanda. Passengers will be able to transfer simply by walking through the restored Haparanda station building, which sits directly between the two rail systems.
“The Haparanda station building is located between the Finnish and Swedish tracks,” Kangastalo explained to the radio. “So changing from VR to Swedish Norrtåg trains will just mean walking through the station—it’s very straightforward.”
The reopening also marks a symbolic milestone: Finland’s first international rail operations since services to St. Petersburg were suspended in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Finnish Transport and Communications Minister Lulu Ranne said to Finland Yle that the goal is to launch services during the summer, though an exact opening date has not yet been confirmed.
She added that the new link would strengthen resilience and improve cross-border mobility, supporting commuting, education, everyday travel, and tourism between Finland and Sweden.
Related News Stories: Finland national railways to introduce new night trains by year-end Emirates to launch a year-round Helsinki-Dubai from October 2026 Lapland flights to resume - TravelMole Legend of the Seas to launch ahead of schedule - TravelMole Austrian rail stops night trains from Paris to Berlin and to Vienna US Senate vote paves way to end shutdown as air traffic strain peaks Finnair to open 12 new European destinations in summer 2026 Celebrity Cruises releases 2027-2028 itineraries - TravelMole Copenhagen "CopenPay" program to be adopted by other ... Royal Caribbean International - TravelMole
newadmin
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
Suspension of all regional trains in Catalonia following two new rail accidents in Spain
AirlineRatings reveals world's safest airline rankings for 2026