jpl
Member
There is funding for 30 services per week. And looking at what has been planned it will be daily.
It has been removed, yes. The removal was part of the electrification programme when Tornio yard was remodeled.
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[SE/FI] Updated: Haparanda - Tornio trains funded, expected to start 2026
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Tornio East is located in an industrial area in the outskirts of the town. If the trains stop at the central station, I don't think East will be very popular. So not a huge loss.
Yes, the standard gauge platform at the central station is gone, which is a pity. Extending the Haparanda trains would not be a bad idea.
Yes, the standard gauge platform at the central station is gone, which is a pity. Extending the Haparanda trains would not be a bad idea.
jpl
Member
Starting next week there is a bus service linking Haparanda station and Kemi with connections to VR trains. The buses run until VR starts running trains to Haparanda.
www.nobina.fi
Junabussi: Haparanda – Tornio – Kemi
Pikavuoro, joka yhdistää Haaparannan, Tornion ja Kemin. Tarjoamme 60 vuoroa viikossa, ja kaikilla vuoroilla on jatkoyhteys VR:n juniin...
The timetable posted above can't easily be changed on the Finnish side. Obviously they can choose not to run services, but it's difficult to add new services or change existing ones.
With the introduction of the Sm6s on domestic routes, VR will have enough rolling stock in the summer to support a service to Tornio. It's a shamed there are only a few Eil/Eilf carriages left, otherwise they'd be a brilliant stopgap for a few years...
kaspertron
Member
It would be nice if VR and Norrtåg could both sign up to the AJC (Agreement on Journey Continuation) now that they're both going to be involved with cross-border railway journeys. Though at the moment it looks as though the waiting time in Haparanda is so long that delays shouldn't be a huge issue.
Mainline421
Member
While I agree, considering Norrtåg is owned by VR and has an agreement with SJ already it's likely they will be able to sort something out in case of delays.
The connection in Haparanda is already possible with a short walk and a long wait (I did it December) so not an entirely new issue.
U-Bahnfreund
Member
Hmm that's a bummer. I remember earlier last year, the VR timings (that you also show) were erroneously in Google Maps and times matched actually really well with the Norrtåg train. I ended up taking the 15:21 train to Luleå, which would have been a great connection with IC 405 from Oulu. At the time, I read that Norrtåg actually had changed its timetable to suit the Finnish trains this way, only for them not to actually run. Did they change them again or back since? Why are Swedish times set in stone? Is there no political pressure from Norrbottens län (who own Norrtåg) to align timetables?
jamesontheroad
Established Member
Small but important correction. Norrtåg is jointly owned by the four counties it serves (Norrbotten, Västerbotten, Västernorrland and Jämtland). VR is the current operator, replacing Vy in December 2025 after they won a competitive tender.
kaspertron
Member
Norrtåg is owned by the four northernmost regions of Sweden, and has contracted out the running of its trains to VR. But yes let's hope there is some movement on that front.
rf_ioliver
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Interesting article in the Finnish newspaper Kaleva, linked via Radiepuolue: https://raidepuolue.fi/uutiset//lehti-vrn-kilpailija-pohtii-valitusta-haaparannan-junista
Kaleva says that Suomen Lähijunat accuses the state of favoring VR. The company is considering the Haparanda trains it chose. - Suomen Lähijunat negotiated the Haparanda service in the autumn, but VR was given a new connection to manage without a competitive tender. According to Antero Alu, the CEO of Suomen Lähijunat Oy, quoted by the newspaper, the train service between Oulu and Haparanda was illegally given to VR. - This is not the first time VR has been favored. This happens repeatedly here.
Suomen Lähijunat Oy is a potential competitor to VR
Kaleva says that Suomen Lähijunat accuses the state of favoring VR. The company is considering the Haparanda trains it chose. - Suomen Lähijunat negotiated the Haparanda service in the autumn, but VR was given a new connection to manage without a competitive tender. According to Antero Alu, the CEO of Suomen Lähijunat Oy, quoted by the newspaper, the train service between Oulu and Haparanda was illegally given to VR. - This is not the first time VR has been favored. This happens repeatedly here.
Suomen Lähijunat Oy is a potential competitor to VR
Well, to be fair, VR can realistically start service in June. Suomen Lähijunat, on the other hand, doesn't currently have trains, drivers or a depot.
rf_ioliver
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I thought SL do have trains...they've been buying up the old Sm2s IIRC. But, yeah...I wish they'd do something; seems like they've been promising Turku-Uusikaupunki will start in
This article https://lahijunat.fi/julkaisu.html?artikkeli=2025-07-16 (run it through a translation engine) they are looking at 2023 at the earliest and probably then acting as an umbrella/consultancy rather than being an operator themselves.
I met with them a few years ago at a conference - they're enthusiastic at least....
jpl
Member
It is the morning train which has changed. Looking at the initial timetable from April 2021 there used to be a very early morning departure at 5:54 from Haparanda to Luleå C. That train would have been a good connection for IC 401 but Norrtåg does not stable an unit overnight in Haparanda anymore. Instead, there is now a train from Boden which arrives later in the morning at 7:00 for departure at 7:11. Still a possible connection, but with a waiting time of two hours.
Looking at the graphical timetables from Trafikverket for recent years it does look like there have been some changes to timings, especially Saturday and Sunday. I am assuming VR's current plans reflect what trains Norrtåg used to run 3-4 years ago.
By the way, Google probably uses Digitraffic (a service by Fintraffic) as a source. Their GTFS data package includes all trains which have been allocated track capacity. Therefore the trains have showed up in Google Maps.
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They did, but then they decided that they were going to be too difficult to refurbish (unsurprisingly) and so they've scrapped (some of) them. I heard a little while ago that they're planning to buy second-hand trains from Germany, I think it was, and modify them to fit the Finnish track gauge.
Do you mean 2031? That's when competitively tendering rail contracts are supposed to begin...which will be "interesting", to say the least...
jamesontheroad
Established Member
Yes, they are, and sadly no, there isn't.
Norrtåg have been quite assertive with its PR this winter, inviting journalists from local newspapers and local TV to visit its workshops in Umeå to show the problems caused by cold weather. To an extent, Norrtåg blame Trafikverket for deciding to close railway lines due to forecast extreme cold (lower than -35°) or storms. Norrtåg argue that Trafikverket are being too cautious in closing lines, and that parking trains (usually outside depots) causes snow and ice build-up to freeze ever harder. There isn't enough indoor depot space for the whole fleet, so when bogies, brakes or other components freeze, trains have to wait their turn to thaw in the workshops.
Lots of folk (especially older Swedes) are mocking what seems to be a new cautiousness about extreme cold, but both Trafikverket and train operators are fearful of a train breaking down and losing heat far from a road in extreme cold.
Norrtåg's fleet is relatively unchanged for several years now, with: 3 x X11 for Umeå-Vännäs-Vindeln-Hällnäs commuter trains; 4 x X52 for Luleå-Haparanda, Luleå-Kiruna and Umeå-Luleå; and 12 x X62 Coradias for everything south of Umeå. (The Itino diesel railcar is gone, and passenger service won't be restored Hällnäs-Lycksele until the line is electrified.) All fleets them have had some faults this winter meaning all fleets and routes are affected.
The X11 are - as I have experienced it as a commuter into Umeå - the most unreliable of the whole fleet. Early-morning trains on the Umeå- Hällnäs corridor often to be cancelled before the first turn, suggesting they have developed faults overnight. Although these are older, simpler and Swedish-built trains, they were not designed for use in the north and are clearly struggling with cold weather reliability.
Luleå - Haparanda has been suffering almost blanket cancellations for weeks now. Only X52 with ERTMS can be used on that line, and they are needed to reinforce the more heavily trafficked Luleå - Umeå route.
Sundsvall - Umeå has also experienced cancellations.
There are 5 more X52 coming from the Transitio fleet in early summer. They're being displaced by new trains for Västtrafik, so when they arrive (and whether they need any refurbishment) means timetables won't change substantially until next winter. But the idea is for them to allow almost hourly Umeå - Sundsvall trains and to provide better reinforcement for the fleet, particularly the X11.
Norrtåg just got the fourth of its four owning counties to commit to the financing needed to buy new trains, so through Transitio they will start a procurement soon for new rolling stock. The earliest they could be in service is 2031,
Norrtåg's press release, translated approximately:
rf_ioliver
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Yes, typo. Though IIRC 2030 is the start date, but yes, nothing is going to run until 2031 at the earliest.
The current direct award contract with VR ends on 31.12.2030, so any new contract will start on 1.1.2031.
jpl
Member
Update: Beginning from today trains both from Finland and Sweden are now allowed to cross the border without explicit authorisation of vehicles. A single safety certificate issued in either country is now sufficient for operation. This reduces the bureaucracy involved and allows for some flexibility. However, the signalling and control system on broad gauge tracks in Haparanda, built with Finnish standards and trackside equipment, is still in lengthy approval process.
rf_ioliver
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Article on YLE this morning (in Engish) https://yle.fi/a/74-20220038
"The grand opening of this route will hopefully be just before Midsummer in late June," Sampo Kangastalo, development director of the northern Finnish city of Tornio, tells Yle News.
Finland gains direct rail link to Europe this summer
Transport Minister Lulu Ranne (Finns) says a long-delayed cross-border train to Sweden should begin rolling this summer, allowing passengers to ride the rails from continental Europe to Finnish Lapland, or overland between the Finnish and Swedish capitals."The grand opening of this route will hopefully be just before Midsummer in late June," Sampo Kangastalo, development director of the northern Finnish city of Tornio, tells Yle News.
Just curious why they have authorised trains from both countries when only Finnish trains are likely to cross the border? Is there actually any chance that Swedish trains will run to Tornio again? I think i heard that they removed the standard gauge platform at Tornio station?
Maybe it's just a political thing: they give each other equal concessions.
jpl
Member
That and the standard gauge freight facilities in Tornio. Although we've not seen much cross-border freight in recent years, they still want to support the capabilities (also a military strategy nowadays).
As someone who has now experienced the current station at Tornio I hope as part of reopening the old station they move the kolari sleeper too it
Reaching the halt really is a pain especially if you have a suitcase and not at all pedestrian accessible, only thing is a single bench out in open
Reaching the halt really is a pain especially if you have a suitcase and not at all pedestrian accessible, only thing is a single bench out in open
I doubt that will happen. If they want the Helsinki to Kolari and Kolari To Helsinki sleeper trains to stop at Tornio then it would have to reverse there. It is a locomotive hauled train so it would either have to be top and tailed with a locomotive at each end or the locomotive would have to detach at Tornio and run round. It would just complicate things and increase journey times. I think that they will probably stick with using Tornio Itainen for that train.
There is already a locomotive swap at oulu so swap that one out for one at tornio now the line up there is electrified
jpl
Member
One slight problem is that there is no depot, and no drivers or ground staff based at Tornio. The costs of providing a loco swap at Tornio would be huge.
Yes, I'd be very surprised if it doesn't happen. The standard gauge platform at Tornio station is history, but there are occasional standard gauge freight trains across the border.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Since they have to reverse the train, changing the locomotive becomes a bit easier. Attach a new one at one and and detach the old one. But, the problem is that they have to reverse the train. So the car loading facilities in Kolari will need to be rebuilt.
jamesontheroad
Established Member
Great news. Since Midsummer is such a big deal in both Sweden and Finland, and the beginning of the 4-6 summer holidays for most people, I reckon VR will work hard to get the first trains rolling before then.
Unfortuately I'm working right up until Midsummer, but I will do my best to get on the first train.
Unfortuately I'm working right up until Midsummer, but I will do my best to get on the first train.
doc7austin
On Moderation
Midsummer is on June 20. That is happening in a little over 2 months from now. The one mayor in the article wished the train to start by midsummar.
I do not believe a start on or before June 20 is realistic. The biggest sticking point will be financing and the timetable, as there need to be through connections (Oulu-Helsinki, and Haparanda-Lulea).
I do not believe a start on or before June 20 is realistic. The biggest sticking point will be financing and the timetable, as there need to be through connections (Oulu-Helsinki, and Haparanda-Lulea).