A pioneering passenger train service has commenced operation, linking Finland and Sweden for the first time in nearly four decades, marking a significant milestone in Nordic rail travel. The historic journey began at 05:00 local time on Monday from Oulu, Finland's coastal city, traversing the border to Haparanda, Sweden, amidst jubilant crowds waving their national flags. This revived route was temporarily suspended in the late 1980s and early 1990s due to insufficient passenger numbers and discrepancies in track widths between Finland and Europe. Finland's unique track widths mirror those of Russia, a legacy from its historical association with the Russian Grand Duchy in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The country is currently undergoing an upgrade to align its tracks with European standards. This twice-daily service takes approximately 100 minutes, following the west coast of Finland before crossing into Sweden. Passengers intending to continue southward will need to transfer onto a different train. Remarkably, this service allows for around 5,000km of rail travel from Portugal's Algarve region to Finland's northernmost station at Kolari, believed to be the longest train route in Europe. Additionally, it facilitates a 24-hour train journey between capitals Helsinki and Stockholm. Finland's Transport Minister emphasizes that this cross-border service is evidence of the ever-growing cooperation between the two nations. Elisa Markula, CEO of Finland's state-owned railway operator VR, anticipates the service to benefit from a resurgence in rail travel across Europe, as it mirrors an increasing trend in passenger numbers in Finland and throughout Europe.