Tuusula’s historic railway station reopens as a restaurant

A long-vacant 19th-century railway station in Tuusula, southern Finland, has been restored as a restaurant after local entrepreneurs took over the historic building, reports Yle.

The wooden Jokela station, built in 1875, had stood empty since ticket sales ended in 2011. Last summer, the Municipality of Tuusula purchased the station from state railway operator VR and sought entrepreneurs to revitalise the area.

Noora Lyytikäinen and Tuomo Niemelä, a local couple with years of hospitality experience, opened Ratapässi—named after old steam locomotives—just over a week ago. “We’ve been working long days, but it’s worth it,” Niemelä said. Lyytikäinen described the competition for the space as intense: “I didn’t believe we’d get it at first. The feeling when we found out was incredible.”

The restaurant offers Neapolitan-style artisanal pizza, tapas, and a full bar—choices driven by the pair’s assessment that a café alone wouldn’t sustain the business in Jokela, a rural community of 6,500. “Everyone in this industry is a little crazy,” Lyytikäinen laughed. “But this was too good an opportunity to pass up. I haven’t regretted a single day.”

Locals have welcomed the revival. “This is a great improvement,” said resident Timo Ahlroth, who has visited twice since the opening. “We were sad to see it empty after the last tenant retired.” The station’s proximity to frequent Helsinki–Riihimäki rail services (trains every 30 minutes) adds to its appeal.

With 42 indoor seats, an eight-person terrace, and a 16-seat private dining room, Ratapässi operates extended hours. The couple, unfazed by the workload, plan to hire additional staff. “When it’s your own place, the long days don’t feel as long,” Niemelä said.