Finnish trains
Finnish trains: the most efficient and comfortable way to travel through Finland.
- Book up to 60 days in advance
- Regional trains
Overview
Finnish trains
Scandinavian style is known for being sleek and minimalistic, and traveling by train throughout Scandinavia follows suit: sleek trains, minimal stress.
Finnish trains are operated by VR, the national railway company of Finland. Trains operate on the extensive railway network to link major Finnish cities like Helsinki (the capital and main travel hub), Tampere (a popular city on the water), and Rovaniemi (also known as “Santa Claus Town”).
Most domestic Finnish trains operated by VR do not require a seat reservation, including the InterCity (IC) trains. However, if you want to be sure to have a seat, you can book a seat reservation in advance.
The high-speed Pendolino trains covering longer routes do require seat reservations – if you book a point to point ticket, the reservation is included in the ticket cost. If you’re traveling with a rail pass, you will need to book the additional seat reservation supplement.
When you’re in Finland, take a ride on the train and treat yourself to an authentic Scandinavian experience: sleek, simple, and stylish.
| Main routes | Travel time |
|---|---|
| Helsinki-Tampere | 1h30 |
| Tampere-Rovaniemi | 9h25 |
Practical information
Paper ticket
Receive your ticket directly to your address. Just take them with you and you are ready to travel. Shipping fees apply.
- Finnish trains tickets are open for booking 60 days ahead.
- Get the lowest prices by booking early and don’t wait until the last minute as cheaper seats sell the fastest.
- Opt for off-peak trains when you have to travel short notice. They are more affordable than morning and evening trains along with those running on holiday eves, Friday and Sunday afternoon.
A class apart
Classes of service
| Second class | First class | |
|---|---|---|
| Generous legroom Watch rolling landscapes pass with room to stretch your legs. | ||
| Spacious seats Make yourself at home as you journey from one city to the next in a comfy leather seat with headrest. | ||
| Reclining seats Make yourself at home as you journey from one city to the next in a comfy reclining seat. | ||
| Bar buffet car Choose from a variety of tasty snacks and beverages, for purchase, to enjoy on your journey. |
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FAQs
Common Questions, Simple Answers
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Q. How do I get a promo code?
A. The best way to stay informed of all current promotions and to receive promo codes is to create a user account and to subscribe to our newsletter. All publicly available promo codes can be found on our Deals page. We also issue individual, one time use promo codes at our discretion to customers who are eligible for certain discounts or have participated in certain promotions or marketing activities.
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Q. How do I request an exchange through the Rail Protection Plan™?
A. To apply for an exchange under the Rail Protection Plan™, please contact us via our Contact Us page. Rail passes/train tickets/reservations/city passes/tours may be exchanged for the same or new products.
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Q. I’ve written the wrong date on my rail pass travel calendar box. What should I do?
A. If the wrong date is written in the travel calendar box, you will need to enter the correct date in the next travel calendar box. Unfortunately, once the date has been entered in the travel calendar box, it cannot be corrected and there’s no way to recover that travel day on the rail pass. Be very careful when filling out the date on your rail pass as mistakes cannot be corrected. An altered travel date could be viewed as an attempt of fraud and could lead to fines or other penalties.
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Q. Can I sit in Second class if I have a First class rail pass?
A. Yes you can, provided there is an available seat. If you are traveling on a train that requires reservations, you can reserve your seat in Second class with a First class rail pass (subject to availability). Please note that there will be no refund given for the difference in fare
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Q. What happens if my train crosses an international border during the night?
A. If you travel in a sleeper compartment, you provide the train attendant with your reservation voucher, rail pass or train ticket, and passport as you board. They can then take care of everything with conductors and customs officials so you can sleep uninterrupted.
If you travel in a regular train that just happens to cross the border at night, customs and border control officers may come directly to you and ask for your passport.
Please note that there will be no passport control (day or night) when traveling between countries that signed the Schengen Agreement. Not all countries belonging to the EU are part of the Schengen Agreement (e.g. Britain). On the flip side, some countries that are not part of the EU are part of the Schengen Agreement (e.g. Switzerland).
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Q. I placed a booking on your website but received a message saying my booking needs to be reviewed by a Travel Consultant. Why?
A. Sometimes, certain products within your booking are not available for confirmation at the time of booking and one of our Travel Consultants needs to manually confirm your booking. Once confirmed, we will contact you to advise it has been finalized and issued.
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Q. Why are e tickets not available for certain trips?
A. Availability of e-tickets depends on two factors: whether the rail company operating the train offers e-ticketing, and if it does, whether Rail Europe was granted technical access to their inventory to enable e-ticketing on their behalf.
Not all European rail companies offer e-tickets. But when they do, we work with them to make this option available on our website. And we’ll continue to do so in order provide more e-ticket options for your convenience.
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Q. How can I subscribe to or unsubscribe from your e newsletter?
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To unsubscribe, you can simply click the unsubscribe link found at the footer of our e-newsletter. This will unsubscribe you immediately.
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Q. Do the prices quoted on the website include all fees and taxes?
A. Fares quoted in our booking engine do not include fees. Depending on the booking delivery method you choose some fees may apply, like a delivery fee, and a processing fee. All fees will be visible to you during checkout. Rail Europe does not collect sale tax on products sold on our sites.
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Q. Do rail passes cover commuter trains or airport shuttle trains?
A. Yes. Certain rail passes do, but not all.
It’s best to view the product page of the rail pass you are interested in to learn about all the benefits it offers travellers.