Aurora Borealis Express
Aurora Borealis Express in Ylitornio
Overview
StatusTrain service still active but the brand name not used by VR anymore
Current operator(s)VR
Ridership75 000 per year[1]
Websitehttps://www.vr.fi/yojunat
Route
TerminiHelsinki
Kolari
Stops16
Distance travelled997 km
Average journey time14 hours
Service frequency0-2 trains per day
Line(s) usedHelsinki-Riihimäki, Riihimäki-Tampere, Tampere-Seinäjoki, Pohjanmaa railway, Oulu-Tornio, Kolari railway
On-board services
Class(es)Ekstra-class and Eco-class
Seating arrangementsTwo seating cars
Sleeping arrangements6-10 sleeping cars
Auto-rack arrangements2-4 car carrier wagons
Catering facilitiesRestaurant car
Baggage facilitiesLuggage compartment
Other facilitiesServies for disabled people, telephone booths
Technical
Rolling stockVR blue cars and InterCity cars
Track gauge1524 mm
Operating speed100 km per hour
Average length500 m
Track owner(s)VR
Timetable number(s)263-262 & 269-270/272/276

The Aurora Borealis Express is an overnight express train operating between Helsinki and Kolari in Finland. The train travels via many major cities and towns in Finland, and stops at most of them. The total distance is a little under 1000 kilometers, and lasts for 14½ hours to 16 hours depending on direction and season. [2] The service is bi-directional, with a corresponding train operating southwards over the same route.[3]

Sleeping cars on the train.

The train consists of seven to ten sleeping cars, two open seating cars and one restaurant car. The car types are older blue cars, which are rarely used nowadays in Finland. A few car carrier wagons are added at the end of the train to transport cars.[4] On the last distance from Oulu to Kolari the electric locomotive is switched out for a diesel locomotive since the railway line to Kolari isn't electrified.

The train travels northbound and southbound on varying days of the week, depending upon the time of year. Passenger demand is variable, and somewhat seasonal.

The Finnish railroad network.

Stops

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Kaukoliikenteen matkat vuonna 2019" (PDF). vayla.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  2. ↑ "Julia.dy.fi".
  3. ↑ "VR Aikataulut". Archived from the original on 21 March 2019.
  4. ↑ "VR Kulkutiedot". Archived from the original on 22 July 2017.
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