April 22, 2026, 12:11 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Starting this summer, train travelers can embark on a new mammoth route through Europe. This marks a step that seems long overdue. All the details on TRAVELBOOK.
Currently, Finland cannot be directly reached by train from the rest of Europe. Or not anymore. But that is about to change. As early as this summer, Sweden and its Finnish neighbor will be connected by train. This means that by summer 2026, train enthusiasts can travel a record-breaking new route: from Portugal’s Algarve all the way to northern Finland–the longest train route in Europe.
New Train Connection Between Sweden and Finland
Until now, train travel between Sweden and Finland was cumbersome. Instead of changing trains at a station or staying on the train, travelers had to shuttle between the Swedish Haparanda and its Finnish neighbor Tornio by bus or car. This is set to change, creating a connection to the rest of the European rail network, reports Finland’s public broadcaster Yle. The two countries have agreed to establish the previously missing link. The goal is to make Haparanda station a transfer hub.
However, trains will not run directly through, at least not initially. The reason is the track gauges: According to Yle, Finnish track gauges still adhere to the old Russian standard of 1.52 meters–a relic from Finland’s past as part of the Russian Empire in the 19th century. In contrast, the standard gauge in Europe is 1.44 meters. Therefore, running trains directly from Sweden to Finland is not possible without altering the entire Finnish rail network.
Instead, the countries have found a pragmatic solution: After the new route opens, travelers coming from or heading to Finland will only need to change trains in Haparanda. “The Haparanda station building is located between the Finnish and Swedish tracks. To switch from VR trains to Swedish Norrtåg trains, you simply walk through the station building–it’s very easy,” Yle News quotes Tornio’s development director, Sampo Kangastalo.
New Route Expected by Summer 2026
According to Kangastalo, the route is expected to open shortly before Midsummer at the end of June. However, Finland’s Minister of Transport, Lulu Ranne, is not yet committing to a specific date, according to Yle News. She states, “Our goal is to start train operations in the summer. I dare not name an exact date, but we are going full throttle. We will really make it happen, and that’s great! I’m very much looking forward to it.”
The new route has been planned for some time, but there have been repeated delays due to bureaucratic or financial disagreements between the countries. A corresponding agreement has recently come into effect, and the financing issues have been settled.
According to Yle News, the new route also means that Finnish trains will operate outside their own borders for the first time since 2022. After the start of Russia’s war on Ukraine, Finland halted its train service to St. Petersburg.
The transport minister expects the new connection to Sweden and Europe to enhance “supply security and resilience in times of crisis” while also promoting “cross-border mobility for commuting, studying, daily errands, and tourism.” Access to northern Finland will be particularly improved from a tourism perspective, she explains.
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Record Route Between Northern and Southern Europe
The new route not only simplifies travel between the two neighboring cities but also connects the two capitals, Helsinki and Stockholm. For this journey, train travelers should plan for about 24 hours after the introduction of the new section. In contrast, a ship journey takes about 18 hours.
The new route will also be exciting for record seekers and lovers of long train journeys, as it opens up the possibility of a European trip from north to south and vice versa. For those seriously considering it: The route between Lagos in southern Portugal and Kolari in northern Finland is approximately 5,000 kilometers long and is already considered the future longest train route in Europe. It connects the sun-drenched dramatic Portuguese coasts with a sightseeing tour from the train window through Portugal and/or Spain, western and northern France, the southern to northern west of Germany, Denmark, southern and eastern Sweden, all the way up to the snowy expanses of Lapland. Besides Finland’s northernmost station, Kolari, the popular Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi can also be reached. The details depend on the chosen route.
Also interesting: The longest route in the world that can be traveled by train
Future European Track Gauges in Finland?
In addition to the soon-to-be-opened new route, there are also long-term plans for Finland’s rail network, as the broadcaster reports. There are indeed plans to build a parallel track with a European gauge. This would run alongside the existing tracks between Haparanda and Kemi, possibly extending further to Oulu. Double-track facilities are also conceivable in some areas, Yle explains. The dual track is part of the Rail Nordica project, which primarily aims to improve military mobility. Finland’s parliament allocated 20 million euros for the project last year. However, it is not expected to be realized until the next decade at the earliest.
Another project that aims to connect Finland with mainland Europe has been planned for years elsewhere: an underwater tunnel between Estonia’s capital Tallinn and Finland’s capital Helsinki (TRAVELBOOK reported). So far, however, there is no concrete construction project for the ambitious plans.