Finland and Sweden sign agreement to simplify cross-border rail traffic

A new agreement between Finland and Sweden will reduce administrative burdens for cross-border rail services between Tornio and Haparanda, paving the way for passenger trains to begin operating in summer 2026, Yle reports.

The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) and Sweden’s Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen) signed the deal, which takes effect on Friday, April 10. It allows trains to cross the border using their home country’s rolling stock approvals—Finnish 1,524 mm gauge trains can operate to Haparanda under Finnish certification, while Swedish 1,435 mm gauge trains can run to Tornio under Swedish rules.

A unified safety certificate will also cover the border crossing point. “This certificate, issued by national railway safety authorities or the European Union Agency for Railways, confirms that a rail operator can run trains safely,” explained Une Tyynilä, a senior specialist at Traficom.

The agreement streamlines permit processing between authorities and eliminates the need for separate approvals for each vehicle. While invisible to passengers, it removes a key obstacle to launching cross-border services. Negotiations for state-funded passenger rail contracts are ongoing, with operations expected to start in summer 2026.