Finnish railways leave a great impression on everyone who has used them. Comfortable coaches, adequate ticket prices, speed and punctuality are the main characteristics. Railways in Finland connect almost all major cities and towns of the country and are very popular with its residents and tourists.
From the history of the Finnish railway
The railway service in this country is closely connected with Russia. In the 19th century, a significant part of the territory of modern Finland was part of the Russian Empire, so the first railways were laid by Russian specialists.
The first train set off from Hämeenlinna to Helsinki in 1862, and eight years later, in 1870, the Helsinki - St. Petersburg line was built. At that time, the track gauge was 1524 mm, and the trains were moving at such a speed that travelers on horseback could easily overtake them.
In the 1930s, the first electric trains appeared in Finland, and even today you can often see electric locomotives from Russia here - special equipment for Finnish railways is still produced at the Novocherkassk plant. By the way, at present, a trip to Europe for Russian tourists is possible on a corporate train named after the great Russian artist Ilya Repin, whose last years of his life were associated with Finland.
What trains run in Finland
Modern Finnish trains provide all the conditions for short and long journeys, travel with family and business trips.
Pendolino (S)
Very popular in Finland, trains run between major cities of the country at a speed of 220 km / h. They have a dining car, air conditioning, Wi-Fi. In addition, the waiters carry food to the carriages, offering passengers a snack during the trip.
InterCity (IC, IC2)
Double-decker intercity trains. On the first floor there are ordinary compartments, on the second - a compartment with a toilet and shower. Special amenities are provided for kids: there are play areas, places for heating food. There are also special places for disabled people, allergy sufferers and passengers traveling with pets.
Long-distance express trains (P)
Traditional comfortable trains connecting the cities of the south of the country - Turku, Tampere, Lahti, Kouvola and others. They can transport bicycles, animals, and a restaurant car.
Night trains
These trains will take you to the remote northern regions of the country, in particular, with their help you can get to Rovaniemi, Oulu, Kajaani. Moreover, you can even take your own car with you on the road, since the train is equipped with special platforms.
Transportation over short distances in the metropolitan area is carried out by electric trains.
Regulations for carriage by rail in Finland
Going on a trip, you should find out some of the features of rail transportation within the country, since not all of them apply to international transportation.
- If you travel with children, you are entitled to benefits. A child under 6 years old travels free of charge, and a child under 10 years old, who does not take a separate seat, enjoys this right on a night train.
- Bicycles, strollers, skis can be transported on all trains running on domestic lines in Finland, only you must pay in advance for their transportation and book a seat for them on the train, the number of which is limited.
- Animals can be transported in muzzles, on a leash or in a carrier if there is a microchip and appropriate documents, in particular, a certificate of vaccination.
- Night trains heading north have special platforms on which you can transport your car, and at the place of arrival you can get the keys to it right at the station. By the way, you can send the car in advance and then pick it up.
- Smoking is not allowed only in InterCity (IC, IC2), other trains have designated smoking areas.
Ticket prices
As a rule, you can buy train tickets right at the station before departure. However, if you are traveling on holidays - New Years, Christmas, Easter or Midsummer's, you should take care of your tickets in advance. The same applies to the transportation of additional cargo: if you are traveling with skis or a stroller, take a ticket in advance.
The average cost of a trip by a regular train in the second class for a distance of up to 100 km will cost about 15 euros, in an express train - up to 25 euros, so many Finns are actively using discounts.
If you take tickets immediately there and back, you can save up to 20%.
In addition, there is an opportunity to use InterRail rail passes, which entitle you to a significant discount. They can be bought at the ticket office of the station or at the InterRail company, but the official website of the railways does not sell season tickets.
Children from 6 to 16 years old are entitled to a 30% discount on tickets on all trains (children under 10 years of age can travel for free on night trains). For groups of more than 6 people, there is a 20% discount, there are also family and some other discounts. If you are eligible for a discount when buying tickets from the machine or online, click on the discount code and receive a discount code.
How to buy a ticket
As elsewhere in Europe, you can buy a ticket at the box office, machine or from the conductor, paying in cash or by card. Many people buy their tickets online on the VR Finnish Railways website.
Having entered the site, indicate the date and time you need, after which you will be offered several options. Choose the train that suits you, specify the date and time of departure, the number of passengers and discounts, if you are entitled to. Payment is made by credit card.
Before the trip, you need to print a ticket and present it to the controller when boarding the train, or show it in a mobile application so that the conductor can see it.
Map and designation of main routes
The railway network connects almost all settlements located in the south and in the center of the country.
There is no rail service only in the northern part of Finland beyond the Arctic Circle.
A detailed road map can be found here.
There are many electric trains from Helsinki to the nearest cities and suburbs, which are very popular among the population and tourists.
If you look at the train schedule, you will notice that the most intensive traffic is observed between Helsinki and Tampere, second place is for the electric train traveling from the capital to Turku.
Also well known is the electric train that goes to the Helsinki-Vantaa airport through the Tikkurila station - it is here that tourists who are heading from St. Petersburg to the capital's airport change onto the Finnish train.
During the tourist season, trains running from the capital of Finland to the Russian-Finnish border are popular: Imatra in South Karelia (200 km from St. Petersburg) and Joensuu, where there is a railway bridge - one of the largest in Finland. From Joensuu to Petrozavodsk a little more than 350 km.
Finnish Railways phone numbers and addresses
More information about the services of Finnish railways can be found on the official website: www.vr.fi. By the way, in addition to the versions in Finnish, Swedish and English, it also has a Russian-language version. On the portal you will find out the train schedule and can order a ticket online.
The central station is located near the center of the capital at Kaivokatu 1, 00100 Helsinki, Finland.
VR-Yhtymä Oy Finnish Railways customer service center: telephone 0600-41-900, open from 5.00 to 22.00.
Here you can find out the cost of tickets, train timetables, as well as buy or order tickets.
Customer support: phone 0800-166-888, open from 5.00 to 22.00
Here you will be helped to return tickets or reissue them, reserve a ticket for a subscription, help to deal with the site options, and in case of delays - give information about the arrival / departure of the train.
Lost and Found: phone + 358-600-10-06
Call center and other service operators communicate with customers exclusively in Finnish, Swedish or English.
Where to find out more about Finnish railways
Finns are sensitive to their railway, therefore museums dedicated to its history have been created in different cities, in which priceless exhibits are carefully kept.
For example, in the town of Kouvola there is a museum of railway modeling, and nearby there is an old quarter, where the first Finnish railway workers lived.
In the province of Tavastia, tourists will be able to drive a dozen kilometers along the Kumppila - Minkiyo - Jokioinen narrow-gauge railway, having looked at the Minkiyo narrow-gauge museum, which contains objects and photos from a century and a half ago.
In Porvoo, a section of the old road has been preserved, along which you can travel to Helsinki on an old train with a steam locomotive, as 100 years ago. At many stations there are old steam locomotives as artifacts of bygone times.
Finally
Finnish railways have been serving the country's population and tourists for almost 150 years, carrying millions of passengers every year. They are constantly being improved and developed, confirming their loyalty to the ancient motto chosen by the Finnish railway workers: "Everything for the convenience of passengers!"
