Train connection between Helsinki and St. Petersburg discontinued

#NordicNews on train traffic

Allegro fast train between Helsinki and St. Petersburg has been suspended 

On 27 March 2022, the Finnish railway company VR suspended rail operations with the Allegro express train between Helsinki and St. Petersburg until further notice. Until then, the train was in service twice a day. This means that there is no longer a direct rail connection between Russia and the EU.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, demand had increased extremely. In consultation with the authorities, VR had maintained operations until 27.03.2022 in order to provide Finnish citizens with safe access to their home country. In parallel, Russian citizens had the possibility to leave Russia and enter the EU this way. Due to the Western sanctions against Russia, the Finnish railways saw the decision to discontinue the connection now as appropriate.

Up to now, Allegro offered attractive travel options for tourists 

The connection with the Allegro express train existed since December 2010 and offered a comfortable possibility to connect the Finnish capital with the Russian city St. Petersburg. The journey, which takes only 3.5 hours, leads from Helsinki Central Station through the beautiful landscapes of Karelia to the centre of St. Petersburg.

More about the Allegro train.

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