Finland-Sweden train service resumes after about 4 decades

Passenger train services between Tornio in Finland and Haparanda in Sweden resumed on Monday after a break of 38 years, said National railway operator VR.

The new route eased travel between the Oulu in Finland and Luleå in Sweden.

A total of 28 services will be operated weekly.

The track connection is very significant regionally, as it improved connections from Northern Finland to Sweden as well as to Norway.

There will be two daily services between Oulu and Haaparanta in both directions every day of the week.

News agency Xinhua adds: Passenger rail traffic across the Tornio-Haparanda border was suspended in 1988 after becoming economically unviable amid growing reliance on private cars.

The service, operated by VR, is part of a government-supported public transport contract covering routes that are not commercially viable. The Finnish state and municipalities in the region jointly finance the restored service.

Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne, who traveled on the first service on Monday, said the connection had been absent for nearly 40 years despite efforts by successive governments to restore it.

She said the service would facilitate everyday cross-border travel, strengthen the regional economy and improve accessibility in northern Finland.

"Transport connections are also security policy," Ranne said, adding that diversified and reliable links between neighboring countries strengthen societal resilience and security of supply.

The new service also enables onward rail travel from Finland to Sweden and other parts of Europe.

However, passengers continuing onto Sweden's rail network must change trains at Haparanda because Finland uses a wider track gauge than Sweden and most of Europe.

Finland has also considered introducing the European standard gauge on parts of its northern railway network.

Jarkko Saarimaki, director-general of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, told national broadcaster Yle that such a change would be a long-term project that could be carried out gradually as existing tracks are renewed.

The cross-border railway between Tornio and Haparanda dates back to the early 20th century.