Finland's New Rail Device Moves Trains Between Countries

Trains from Sweden just rolled into Finland for the first time in generations, and the solution that made it possible is surprisingly simple.

VR FleetCare, Finland's state railway maintenance company, created special transfer bogies that let trains switch between Sweden's standard tracks and Finland's wider rails. On January 9, 2026, the first Swedish electric train crossed the border at Haaparanta-Tornio and arrived in Oulu, traveling entirely by rail instead of being trucked across the border.

The problem these devices solve has frustrated Nordic railways for over a century. Sweden uses standard gauge tracks (1,435 mm), while Finland's network runs on broader 1,524 mm tracks. Until now, moving trains between the countries meant disassembling them, loading the pieces onto oversized trucks, and reassembling them at their destination.

"The difference in gauge led us to develop a new type of bogie, designed specifically for transporting foreign rolling stock to Finland," said Peter Guldbrand, sales and project management manager at VR FleetCare. Swedish trains now swap their wheel sets for Finnish-compatible ones at the border and continue their journey by rail.

The breakthrough is already proving its worth. Swedish operator SJ is sending 27 double-decker electric trains to VR FleetCare's Oulu facility for complete modernization. The work will extend each train's working life by 15 to 20 years, with the last refurbished units returning to Swedish tracks in early 2028.

The Ripple Effect

The environmental wins add up quickly. Road transport for a single train requires multiple oversized trucks, burning diesel and creating emissions. Rail transfer cuts those emissions to nearly zero while eliminating the risk of damage during disassembly and transport.

VR FleetCare invested nearly 10 million euros in expanding its Oulu center, including a new paint shop and upgraded facilities. The company expects the transfer system will attract maintenance contracts from other Nordic countries, positioning Finland as a regional hub for train refurbishment.

The solution demonstrates how creative engineering can turn geographic challenges into opportunities. What was once a barrier separating Nordic rail networks is becoming a bridge connecting them, making cross-border cooperation cleaner and more efficient for decades to come.