Country info: Finland (Suomi)

Rail companies: VR (Suomen Valtion Rautatiet)

Finnish Rail Network Map 

Currency: Euro

Train travel in Finland: train types, tickets, fares, discounts & other useful info

National Train Service:

• Suburban/Commuter (marked by letters (depending on route) like 'A', 'R', 'M' etc. on VR website) – commuter service in Helsinki Metropolitan area, no seat reservation required (Helsinki to Riihimäki, Karjaa, Vantaankoski etc.)
• Regional (marked as 'H' on VR website) - regional routes all over Finland , no seat reservation required 
• Express (marked as 'P' on VR website) – daytime & overnight express services (national & international lines), seat/bed reservation required only for international routes ('Tolstoi' train from Helsinki to Moscow) & national overnight trains to Lapland (Rovaniemi, Kolari, Kemijärvi)
• InterCity (marked as 'IC' & 'IC²' on VR website) – intercity service connecting major Finnish destinations, seat reservation not required, but can be made
  
• Pendolino (marked as 'S' on VR website) – high-speed service with Alstom tilting trains connecting major Finnish cities (Helsinki to Oulu, Helsinki to Jyväskylä & Kuopio, Helsinki to Kouvola, Iisalmi & Kajaani, Helsinki to Joensuu), seat reservation compulsory 
• International trains (marked as 'AE' & 'P' on VR website) – daytime (Allegro) & overnight service from Helsinki to Russia (St.Petersburg & Moscow), seat/bed reservation required 
  

 Discounts, special offers & ways to save money for passengers traveling in Finland (VR):

1. For passengers purchasing train tickets in advance (60-7 days before departure) Finnish Railways (VR) offer special discounted fares, thus the earlier you buy, the less you pay. For instance ticket from Helsinki to Tampere can be purchased for as low as 15,5 euro (full standard fare is 30,99 euro), from Helsinki to Turku for 15,38 euro (vs. standard price 30,76 euro) etc. 
2. Passengers traveling with children can take advantage of Family Ticket offer - one child (6-16 years old) travel free with every adult passenger having standard full fare ticket
   
3. 50 % "SeaRail" discount is granted (currently until June 30, 2013) on train tickets used in connection with Tallink Silja & Viking Line ferry trips
4. Passengers planning multiple long-distance train journeys in Finland might consider purchasing Finland InterRail pass (adults: 3 days/1 month - 123 euro, 4 days – 155 euro, 6 days - 208 euro & 8 days – 251 euro)
5. Passengers planning multiple (short/medium/long distance) trip in Finland can as well consider SCIC-NRT/TCV international tickets for domestic journeys in Finland (for more info about the trick see 'Western Europe-how cheap it can be?'). For example ticket from Helsinki to the very north of the country - Rovaniemi valid for one month & allowing unlimited stopovers on the way costs only 74 euro

International Train Service:

a) Regular discounts

Tickets (Global Price) for Finland to Russia overnight 'Tolstoi' train are sold according to high (28.3.-01.04. and 26.04.-25.5) & low season periods

b) Special offers (SparSchiene)

Russia ('Advance Ticket' offer for Allegro high-speed trains): from Helsinki to St.Petersburg (from 39 euro), from Tampere to St.Petersburg (from 59 euro), from Lahti to St.Petersburg (from 30 euro), from Kuopio to St. Petersburg (from 65 euro), Jyväskylä to St. Petersburg (from 79 euro), from Turku to St.Petersburg (from 99 euro), from Oulu to St.Petersburg (from 102 euro) etc.

c) CityStars

Not available

Youth & Senior passengers holding Rail Plus Cards eligible to discount on all VR international tickets

It is as well possible to purchase Rail Plus Card in Finland (allows 25% discount on any international tickets between almost all European countries). Rail Plus Card prices: persons <26 & >60 years old – 20 euro or 45 euro for adults

Besides the above options for international rail journeys, passengers can as well use international SCIC-NRT/TCV tickets while traveling to/from Finalnd (for more details about this 'trick' see 'Western Europe – how cheap it can be?' section). For instance Helsinki to Moscow SCIC-NRT/TCV tariff ticket (with unlimited stops on the route & one month validity period) costs only 65 euro

How to Buy Train Tickets in Finland:

National (domestic) & international tickets (including offers) can be purchase online via VR Ticket Shop - www.vr.fi/onlineshop

Do you still have further questions or want to share your own travel experience? You are welcome on our Forum page

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