Travelling by Train in Finland
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Finland has a well-working railway system. VR is a state-owned company that operates Finland's passenger rail traffic. Our article shares what you need to know before boarding a train in Finland. Read the article and understand what Finnish trains are like.
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Rail Network in Finland
Finland has a 5,926 km long public-owned rail network. Southern Finland is well-covered, but the rail network covers only the main cities in Lapland. Kolari, Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi are the most northern Finnish train stations.
Helsinki, Finland's capital, is a southern central point of the rail network. However, there are still many point-to-point connections between the other cities. When flying between cities, usually one has to connect at Helsinki Airport. In contrast, travellers seldom need to connect in Helsinki by train to other parts of Finland. Oftentimes, it is possible to find a direct route between cities. Also, connecting from one train to another is possible in every major city.
Almost every big city in Finland has at least one railway station. Many towns have plenty of them. Together, there are more than 200 operating railway stations and a few abandoned ones.
The Rail Company - VR
The Finnish railway traffic is slowly opening for competition. So far, only the state-owned rail company VR is operating passenger traffic. The monopoly has a few benefits and disadvantages, such as a higher price. A good thing is that you do not need to compare ticket prices between companies; all tickets can be bought from the same company.
The best place to buy train tickets is VR's own website. However, you can try perille.fi meta comparison tool to find prices of different types of public transport. VR uses dynamic pricing, just like airlines and bus companies. The earlier you buy a ticket, the cheaper it will be. Sometimes, there are also sales campaigns going on. The tickets are issued electronically, so showing a QR code during the ticket inspection is enough.
Finnish Trains
There are three main train types in Finland. Long-distance routes are usually operated by InterCity trains, which have two-story modern carriages. Italian-built Pendolinos operates a few long-distance routes. These trains are shorter, having only one story, but they drive a little faster. Unfortunately, some people find Pendolinos uncomfortable because the train's body tilts in curves to compensate for lateral forces. The short routes near Helsinki and Tampere are operated by commuter trains.
Ticket Classes
VR has three ticket classes: The normal Economy class, Ekstra Class and regional class for commuter trains. You must select between the normal Economy or Ekstra Class for long-distance trains. These classes are quite similar, but in Ekstra Class, there are complimentary coffee and tea, newspapers and power sockets near every seat. Ekstra Class also has a dedicated area on the train, making it more peaceful. The other parts of the long-distance trains belong to the normal Economy class. There is no first-class on VR trains.
Ekstra Class costs only about 10 to 30 euros more, which makes it very affordable. The exact price depends on the route length.
Seats and Cabins
Long-distance trains use 2+2 seat configuration in open departments. The seats are spacious, and they recline. Every seat has a table and at least one power socket. On InterCity trains, a traveller can choose whether to sit down- or upstairs.
Travellers often book an overnight train from the south to Lapland. For an overnight train, booking your own or a shared cabin is possible. The simplest cabins have only beds. The better ones also have a shower and toilet.
Car-carrier Trains
Taking a car on a train and sleeping in a cabin is a comfortable way to travel from Helsinki to Lapland. It also comes at a high price. Quite often, flying is cheaper. We advise booking overnight and car-carrier trains early when the prices are still moderate.
The price for a car on a train starts from 49 euros.
Complimentary Services
Every ticket includes a reserved seat except on commuter trains. A passenger can choose a favourite seat free of extra charge in his ticket class. Seats above the train's restaurant may have additional charges.
Long-distance trains have free Wi-Fi, table and reading lights, power sockets, toilets, heating and air conditioning. Commuter trains have fewer services, but also they have toilets.
Restaurant
Long-distance trains have a restaurant carriage or sales from a cart. Passengers typically enjoy drinks or coffee with some snacks in the train's restaurant. The restaurant also serves warm meals, but the quality may be disappointing. To save money, eating before or after a journey and enjoying only a cup of coffee on the train is recommended. Is it allowed to take food on a train, but consumption of your alcohol is forbidden.
Keeping Connected
All long-distance trains have free Wi-Fi. According to our experience, Wi-Fi is quite slow. Using a mobile phone's internet connection is more reliable and faster. Train's Wi-Fi is still a good service to avoid roaming fees.
Driving Speed
Trains in Finland are not fast. Pendolinos can drive up to 220 km/h, but usually, they drive from 160 to 200 km/h. The InterCity trains drive between 160 - 200 km/h, but the speed depends on the route. Commuter trains are the slowest option, and their typical speed is 120 km/h. They also call almost at every station.
The reason for the slow speed is the condition of the tracks. The tracks are not suitable for bullet trains without improvements.
Helsinki Airport Train
Two HSL trains, Train I and Train P, pass through the Helsinki Airport station. Both trains traverse the Ring Rail Line, bringing passengers to the Helsinki City Center in under 30 minutes. Suppose you need to transfer to long-distance trains. In that case, you may do so either at Pasila Train Station, the last train station, before arriving at Helsinki Main Railway Station or Tikkurila Railways Station in Vantaa. Tikkurila Train Station is just 5 km away from Helsinki Airport.
Tickets
VR has an electronic ticketing system. Every ticket has a QR code.
Price
VR uses dynamic pricing—a ticket from Helsinki to Turku costs 6 to 30 euros one-way. A ride from Helsinki to Lapland costs from 40 to 100 euros. People who prefer to have their cabin must be ready to pay about 50 euros more. Taking a car to the train costs about 40 euros.
In Finland, travelling by train is not cheap. Usually, taking a bus or even flying becomes cheaper. Luckily, VR has sale campaigns now and then, and booking a ticket at the right moment makes it possible to get an affordable rate. In recent years, the prices have been going down.
Ticket Inspection
A conductor inspects tickets on long-distance trains after every station. It is the passenger's responsibility to show the ticket in the first possible inspection. The e-ticket can be demonstrated via VR's mobile app.
Tickets are no longer sold on the trains, so a passenger must have purchased a valid ticket before boarding a train. Failure to show a valid ticket during a ticket inspection will result in a penalty of 80 euros.
Supplementary Services
On long-distance trains, there are paid extra services. You can choose a seat above a restaurant carriage, which is sometimes more expensive. Selecting a seat from a closed 2- or 4-seat department costs more than the regular tickets. In long-distance trains, having extra luggage or a bicycle charges additional fees. No extra fees need to be paid when travelling with them on commuter trains.
Changes and Cancellations
You can change a ticket to another train before the journey has begun. VR takes a service fee of 5 euros and the price difference of the tickets. Cancelling a ticket is only possible if you have bought a cancellation protection service together with your ticket. This protection costs from a few euros up to 40 euros.
Compensation
When a train is delayed at least 60 minutes, you can apply for a compensation of 25 per cent of the original ticket price, not including the cancellation protection fee. After 2 hour's delay, the compensation will be 50%. Compensation of fewer than 4 euros will not be paid.
The compensation rule is based on the EU's regulation. The compensation is not automated, but you must apply for it.
Where to Book Train Tickets?
You can book single tickets for Finnish trains on VR's website. A rail pass is a better option if you plan to visit many European countries.
In the Helsinki region, you need to use HSL app to buy tickets for commuter trains. Tickets can also be bought from ticketing machines or R-kiosks.
Common Questions
- Are there trains in Finland?
- Yes, there are. Finland has a railway network that is about 6,000 km long and has more than 200 railway stations.
- Are Finnish trains fast?
- Not really. They drive normally only about 160 km/h.
- Are Finnish train tickets expensive?
- Unfortunately, tickets are pretty pricey. By booking early, you can save a lot of money.
- What is an InterCity Train?
- InterCity Train is the most common long-distance train type in Finland.
- What is Pendolino?
- Pendolino is a long-distance and fastest train in Finland.
- Do train tickets in Finland include a reserved seat?
- Yes, they do, except on commuter trains.
- Are there overnight trains in Finland?
- Yes, there are. You can even book a cabin or take a car on the train.
- Do trains in Finland have a restaurant?
- Yes, they do. There is a restaurant carriage or sales from a cart on long-distance trains.
- What are the benefits of Ekstra Class
- Passengers who purchase Ekstra Class tickets will have complimentary coffee and newspapers in a dedicated area.
- How can I continue to my destination from the railway station?
- The easiest way is to take a taxi. In Helsinki, you can pre-book a private transfer from our partner Welcome Pickups to your final destination.
Bottom Line
Travelling by train may be the most comfortable way to move around Finland. However, it is not fast or cheap. We recommended comparing prices and making bookings early. To save some money, taking a flight or a bus may become cheaper.
Trains are safe, clean and of good quality. You can buy additional services, including drinks, food, and cab or car transportation. If the budget is not a concern, we recommend trying an overnight train from the south to the north.
Have you travelled by train in Finland? Tell us about your experiences! Or join our Finland-related Facebook group: Travelling and Living in Finland and get nice travel ideas.
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