The two daily direct trains from Helsinki to St Petersburg are easily the best way to do this journey. One is Finnish, the other Russian, both are very comfortable.

Helsinki ► St Petersburg


St Petersburg ► Helsinki
Daily: Sibelius Repin Daily:
Repin Sibelius
Helsinki depart 07:00 15:00 St Petersburg (Finlandski) depart 07:17 16:30
St Petersburg (Finlandski) arrive 14:15 22:51 Helsinki arrive 12:48 21:58

Engineering work: The Sibelius & Repin will be cancelled on certain dates (meaning most Tuesdays) in summer 2009 because of engineering work to improve and speed up the Helsinki-Russia rail link. They should resume 7-days-a-week operation from 31 August 2009. Please double-check when you book.

Sibelius = Finnish rolling stock, air-conditioned, completely refurbished in 2006. 1st & 2nd class, restaurant car. The restaurant car accepts Euros, USD, Rubles and all major credit cards.

Repin = Russian rolling stock. Spalny vagon (1st class 2-seat compartments), kupé class (2nd class 4-seat compartments), 2nd class open seating, restaurant car. The fare includes complimentary snack & soft drink. The restaurant car accepts Euros, USD, Rubles but not credit cards.

See the brochure on the Finnish Railways website which shows photographs and seating/sleeping berth layouts of each type of seat/sleeper and restaurant car on each of the Helsinki-Russia trains. The Russian border station is Vyborg.

Which station in St Petersburg? Since September 2006, these trains have been once again using St Petersburg Finlandski station, not the new Ladozhki station which they used for a while.

Fares...
Helsinki to St Petersburg costs 55 euro (£44) one-way in 2nd class (either train), 62 euro in Repin 4-seat compartment, 87 euro (£58) in Sibelius 1st class, 95 euro in Repin 1st class.

Children aged 6 to 16 (inclusive) travel at half fare. Children under 6 go free.

Anyone over 60 gets a 30% reduction. A passport must be shown on the train.

You can check these fares at www.vr.fi (English button top right, look for 'trains to Russia')

How to buy tickets...

The direct overnight train called the "Tolstoi" is easily the best way to travel from Helsinki to Moscow. It's safe, cheap, civilised and comfortable. The train has recently (2006) been completely refurbished, there are sleepers, a restaurant and even deluxe sleeper with private shower, and border controls have been streamlined. Times valid from 1 September 2008.

Helsinki ► Moscow


Moscow ► Helsinki
The "Tolstoi" Daily The "Tolstoi"
Daily
Helsinki depart 17:52 Moscow (Octyabrskaya) depart 22:50*
Moscow (Octyabrskaya) arrive 08:25 Helsinki arrive 12:06

On board the Helsinki-Moscow "Tolstoi"...
2nd class sleepers with 4-berth compartments (each berth is sold separately)

1st class sleepers with 1 & 2-berth compartments (if you are travelling solo you can book one bed in a 2-bed compartment and share )

Business class deluxe sleeping-car with four 2-bed compartments, each with private shower, toilet & DVD entertainment. Only whole compartments are sold, you cannot book one berth in a 2-berth deluxe sleeper. See photo below.

a newly-refurbished bar-restaurant car. The restaurant accepts Euros, US Dollars and Rubles, but not credit cards.

The coaches on this train were renewed in 2006, and it's a safe, affordable and very comfortable way to travel. Customs and passport formalities are carried out on board the train, no need to get off at the frontier. The Russian border station is Vyborg.

See the brochure on the Finnish Railways website which shows photographs and seating/sleeping berth layouts of each type of seat/sleeper and restaurant car on each of the Helsinki-Russia trains.