The new passenger rail connection between Finland and Sweden makes Finnish Lapland more accessible by land from Central Europe.
On Monday, 10 August 2026, a new chapter in northern transport history was written as a passenger train departed early in the morning from Oulu, travelling via Tornio to Haparanda in Sweden. After almost four decades, the new rail connection once again links Finland and Sweden by train, making travel to the Tornio River Valley easier than before. For tourism, the significance extends far beyond the local route: Finland and Finnish Lapland can now also be reached by rail from the rest of Europe via Sweden.
Train services now operate daily between Oulu, Kemi, Tornio and Haparanda. From Haparanda, passengers can connect to Sweden’s rail network and continue south towards destinations such as Luleå, Stockholm and onward to Central Europe. Along the Tornio River, the railway continues north all the way to Kolari, with stops also in Ylitornio and Pello.
Accessibility to the region is also improving from the west. The reopened cross-border rail connection creates exciting opportunities for entirely new international rail journeys. In the future, travellers could begin their trip in Stockholm and continue via Boden and Haparanda to the Tornio River Valley, reaching destinations such as Ylitornio, Pello and Kolari, as timetables and onward connections continue to develop.
For visitors, the new connection offers an even more sustainable way to reach Finnish Lapland by land. The region’s beautiful riverscapes, charming villages, local culture and authentic nature experiences are now more accessible than ever, including for international rail travellers.
In the Tornio River Valley, the border has always brought people together rather than kept them apart. Now, travellers can once again cross the world’s friendliest border by passenger train.
We warmly welcome all rail travellers to the Tornio River Valley – home to the world’s friendliest border.
Solekko tulla! Why not come along?