VR to open the popular Hillosensalmi and Härmä stops also in the upcoming summer season

From Saturday 29 April 2023, two trains a day will stop at the Hillosensalmi stopping point, right next to Repovesi National Park. From the south, the train timetable allows a day trip to the national park, giving visitors more than six hours at the park. From the north, the timetable favours overnight hiking trips. The stop, which began as an experiment last year, garnered praise from many parties: the towns, cities and tourism operators in the area, VR’s partner Metsähallitus and, of course, customers.

“We are looking forward to a busy summer of domestic tourism and we are very happy to make it possible to travel to a magnificent landscape like Repovesi by train. The connection was warmly welcomed last summer, and customers also wanted it to be continued further into the autumn. This year, we will continue the Hillosensalmi train connection until the end of October, so customers can also take the train to see the autumn foliage in Repovesi,” says Piia Tyynilä, VR’s SVP Long-Distance Trains.

Train tickets to the Hillosensalmi and Härmä stops will be sold from this week onwards (travel time until 18 June). Tickets for the rest of the season (travel time from 19 June 2023 onwards) will be sold from week 8 onwards.

The following train services will stop daily at Hillosensalmi from 29 April to 28 October 2023:

• IC 63 Mon–Sun from Helsinki at 08:19 a.m. (from 19 June 2023 at 8:15 a.m.) – Hillosensalmi 10:13–10:14 a.m. – Kuopio 12:29 p.m.
• IC 68 Mon–Sun from Kuopio at 2:20 p.m. – Hillosensalmi 4:42–4:43 p.m. – Helsinki 6:40 p.m.

The summer bus line 15 of Kouvola’s public transport service offers smooth bus connections from the Hillosensalmi stopping point to Repovesi National Park on Saturdays and Sundays. The city is currently looking into providing a connection for weekdays as well.

Trains will start stopping at Härmä station on 13 May 2023

VR has stopped at Härmä station during the summer season since 2017. This summer, the season starts on 13 May and ends on 19 August 2023.

• IC 23 Mon–Sun from Helsinki at 08:24 a.m. (from 19 June 2023 at 08:20 a.m.) – Härmä 11:40–11:41 a.m. – Oulu 2:22 p.m.
• IC 37 Mon–Sun from Helsinki at 1:24 p.m. (from 19 June 2023 at 1:20 p.m.) – Härmä 5:06–5:07 p.m. – Oulu 7:51 p.m.
• IC 38 Mon–Sun from Oulu at 9:16 a.m. – Härmä 11:54–11:55 a.m. – Helsinki at 3:35 p.m.
• S/IC 56 Mon–Sun from Oulu at 4:11 p.m.– Härmä 6:48–6:49 p.m. – Helsinki 10:35 p.m.