Car Train
Car Train is a service offered by some Finnish railway stations, which is a special service that only a few other areas have. We can take our car with us on the train, and when we arrive at our destination, we get our car directly there. Instead of having to drive the whole way, which often costs the same amount in gasoline and tolls, and takes even longer than taking the car on the train.
That’s why it’s a very popular option on long-distance trains where journeys last several hours, as it is precisely in these cases that it is very useful. The car price starts from €39 and €29 if you want to take a motorcycle. And here we will look at the most essential information, which is often unknown about this type of service offered by VR trains. All kinds of details, know at which stations you can use this option, how it works, prices and much more. So if this is something you are considering, you can’t miss what we are going to see.
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Available Stations
The first thing that is important to know is where we can use this service, where the car is loaded onto the train. As you can see from the map above or from the following table, you will see the stations that have these facilities and services for loading cars. And if you click on the stations, you will see more details.
Since this service is designed for long-distance trips, it is only available at stations that have this type of train, and only on connections lasting several hours. It would not make sense for a connection to put a car on the train for a 1-2 hour trip, which takes just as long by car on the road.
That’s why we also look at what connections exist, because with bad luck not all of these stations are connected to each other in the service where the car is put on the train. For example, in the case of Pasila and Turku, because the train journey is only 2 hours, you cannot use this service. However, Turku has this service with another train station, as you will see from the table below.
Car Train Service Requirements:
- Only available at specific stations with loading facilities
- Only for long-distance journeys (several hours)
- Not all stations are connected to each other
- Check available connections before booking
List of stations with Car Train service:
| Stations |
|---|
| Kolari |
| Kemijärvi |
| Rovaniemi |
| Oulu |
| Tampere |
| Turku |
| Pasila |
One very important point that you may not be aware of is that not all stations are connected to each other via Car Train. So let’s look at what connections we have, so that we can go by Car Train by train between different points. For example, currently from Pasila and Tampere there is no train connection with Car Train. So you cannot use this service between these two stops.
⚠️ Important: Not all stations are connected! Check the available connections below before planning your journey.
Car Train Connections
| Car Train Connections | |
|---|---|
| Kolari – Pasila | Kolari – Tampere |
| Kemijärvi – Pasila | Rovaniemi – Tampere |
| Rovaniemi – Pasila | Rovaniemi – Turku |
| Oulu – Pasila | |
Prices
Prices vary greatly depending on the connection and the day of travel. Since they do not have a fixed price, and when demand for this service increases, prices rise, so that using the car costs twice as much as on days when there are fewer passengers. Nevertheless, we wanted to show you step by step what you should indicate to know the price, and an example of prices we have found on each connection.
Keep in mind that these prices vary quite a bit, so use them only as a reference to know what just bringing the car can cost, not considering the ticket price, on each connection. The ticket price must always be added to this price. As shown in the image above.
💰 Starting Prices: Car from €39 | Motorcycle from €29 (+ ticket price)
Prices between main connections:
| Stations | Price to Pasila |
|---|---|
| Kolari | €69.00 |
| Kemijärvi | €39.00 |
| Rovaniemi | €59.00 |
| Oulu | €59.00 |
| Stations | Price to Tampere |
|---|---|
| Kolari | €129.00 |
| Rovaniemi | €79.00 |
| Stations | Price to Turku |
|---|---|
| Rovaniemi | €89.00 |
To find out the price of transporting a car or motorcycle, we must first click Vehicle and indicate the details of your vehicle’s height and length. Normally, standard-sized cars are a maximum of 1.5 meters high and generally under 5 meters long. So for most cars they are the first choice. Nevertheless, if your car is large, don’t hesitate to familiarize yourself with the dimensions of your model or measure it yourself.
Standard Vehicle Dimensions:
- Height: Maximum 1.5 meters
- Length: Generally under 5 meters
- For larger vehicles: Check specific dimensions or measure yourself
- Remember to include ski boxes or roof racks in height calculation
With this you must indicate your departure and arrival stations. As you can see, when you select the departure station, you will see which other stations you can travel to with this car service on the train. You just need to select a schedule that appears as available, as many schedules may appear as available, since this service is only available on special trains that can accommodate cars and motorcycles. And you can buy the ticket and see both the ticket price and the Car Train service price separately.
Click the button below to go directly to VR’s page and check how much it costs to transport the car on the train on your route.
How It Works
Car Train is a convenient way to transport you and your car or motorcycle from one end of Finland to the other. However, before the trip it is important to note a few things to make your trip smooth and comfortable.
Loading Your Vehicle
First, you must load your car onto the train yourself. However, don’t worry, as you will get help with loading if you need it. However, it is good to remember that lowered cars, cars with trailers, and vehicles with special accessories are transported at the customer’s own risk, and loading them is the customer’s responsibility.
Important Before Loading:
- You load your own vehicle (help available if needed)
- Modified cars / cars with trailers: Customer’s responsibility
- Special accessories: Customer’s responsibility
- Verify dimensions (including ski boxes or racks)
- Arrive early before loading starts
- Present travel ticket to loading staff
Make sure your car fits according to the indicated dimensions, taking into account possible ski boxes or racks. Arrive at the station well in advance before loading starts and present your travel ticket to the loading staff.
Also pack a separate bag that you take with you to the sleeping cabin, and leave the rest of the luggage in the car. If your trip is cancelled, inform customer service, as it may affect the loading order.
At the Departure Station
When you are at the departure station, make sure that there are no other passengers or pets in your car, and follow the instructions of the staff. The staff will guide you to the car wagon to your own place.
🚗 NO passengers or pets allowed in the car during transport!
After Loading
When you have driven your car onto the train, remember to put the handbrake on, close the air filters and lock the car for transport. Also check that the luggage is properly secured. Avoid using a car alarm due to the train’s vibration and swaying.
After Loading Checklist:
- ✅ Put handbrake on
- ✅ Close air filters / ventilation
- ✅ Lock the car
- ✅ Secure all luggage properly
- ❌ DO NOT activate car alarm (train vibration will trigger it)
- ❌ DO NOT leave engine running during loading/unloading
- ❌ NO electric car charging available on train
For safety reasons, do not keep the car idling during loading or unloading. There is no possibility to charge an electric car on the Car Train.
Remember to exit the car immediately after loading and be careful of vehicles driving into the wagon. Then move to the night train’s departure platform to wait for the train to depart.
At the Destination Station
At the destination station, follow the staff’s instructions regarding unloading and reserve enough time for this. If your car is loaded in an outdoor space, make sure there is no snow or ice in the engine compartment before starting.
Unloading Tips:
- Follow staff instructions
- Reserve sufficient time for unloading
- If car loaded in outdoor space: Check for snow/ice in engine compartment
- Wait for staff signal before starting engine
Car Loading Service
Finally, if you don’t want to take care of loading the car yourself, you can choose the car loading service. This service is free and especially convenient, for example, when you are traveling with small children or have limited mobility. Remember to attach the necessary information to your car keys and take care of leaving and picking up the keys at the station.
🎁 FREE Car Loading Service Available – Perfect for families with small children or those with limited mobility!
With these tips you ensure a successful and pleasant journey on the Car Train across Finland.
Ready to Travel with Your Car?
Book your Car Train journey today and enjoy the convenience of transporting your vehicle across Finland. Prices start from €39 for cars and €29 for motorcycles!