VR to trial daytime train service to Kemijärvi in Finland

VR, the Finnish railway company, in collaboration with the municipalities of East Lapland, is set to trial a daytime train service extending to Kemijärvi. However, this service will not operate daily but will be available during busier seasons, such as Christmas, ski holidays, Easter, and the autumn foliage period. The pilot phase is expected to last for one year.

Currently, the only train arriving in Kemijärvi is an overnight train from Helsinki, which reaches the station in the morning. The only outgoing service from Kemijärvi is also an overnight train.

The trial is scheduled to begin in December, when the daytime train will run from Rovaniemi to Kemijärvi during weeks 51 and 52. In the following year, the daytime service is planned for weeks 1, 7–10, 15–16, 27–30, 36–38, and 41–42.

This year, the trial will cost East Lapland municipalities a total of €4,000. For 2024, the projected expense is €32,000, with Kemijärvi covering half of the cost.

Juhani Tapio, chairman of the city council of Kemijärvi, considers these costs minimal if they generate economic benefits for East Lapland. He believes that the daytime service will cater not only to leisure travelers but also to commuters.

Kemijärvi anticipates attracting visitors headed to Pyhä and Suomutunturi, and discussions are underway to establish a connection from Kemijärvi to Salla. Should there be sufficient demand and positive results from the pilot, the daytime service may continue beyond the trial period. Tapio notes that the success of the service heavily relies on how well the municipalities and VR can market it to tourists.