- Passengers
- Services
- Onboard services
- Playrooms and family compartments
The whole family in the train
The InterCity trains operating long-distance services have a new spacious and safe playroom for children. The slide and the minilocomotive are much appreciated by the children. There are also children's books (published by Tammi) that you may read during the journey.
In full swing in the playroom
The playroom is on the upper level of a double-deck car. The upper floor is entirely reserved for families. In the timetable playroom cars are indicated by a teddybear pictograph.
The spacious playroom invites the children
- to drive a minilocomotive hauling passenger and freight cars;
- to slide down the gentle slope with a safety handrail;
- to become princesses and princes in a castle protected by a wall;
- to read children's books published by Tammi.
From the station platform you easily discern the playroom car with its big Huckle Cat and Mole figures on the exterior walls. Inside, just follow Mole's footprints to the playroom.
In November 2006 in Cologne the renovated playroom received recognition in the Railway Interiors Expo. VR was in fact awarded the prize for the best innovation promoting travel comfort in trains.
Peaceful travelling in a family compartment
In InterCity and InterCity2 trains you may choose to travel in a playroom car or in a family compartment on the lower floor of the InterCity service car.
- The compartment has four regular seats and two stools fro children.
- There are two PC plugs in the compartment.
- The lower level WC houses a babycare space with, e.g. a baby bottle heater.
Children enjoying the company of Risto, Mole and Huckle Cat
The figures travelling in the playroom are Risto Räppääjä, Mole and Huckle Cat who will replace Felix Bunny during 2009.
Risto Räppääjä is a 10 years old boy who lives with his aunt Rauha. Risto likes drumming and rapping. His best friend is Nelli "Nuudelipää" Perhonen, the neighbour's daughter.
Risto also likes to travel in trains, and the playrooms of InterCity trains have books on Risto for you to read. For example, Risto makes an incredible trip by train when he tries to trace the last biscuit cone icecream in Europe.
Cheerful little Mole has already over a long period of time been a favourite both of adults and children alike. During his adventures Mole and his friends encounter many really funny and amazing situations as well as sudden scary dangers. Mole has been created by the Czech author Zdenik Miler.
Richard Scarry's fascinating figures, among whom there is Huckle Cat, have been enjoyed by Finnish readers since the 1950s. Huckle Cat with his friends experience hilarious and instructive adventures in the story books.
Viiru and Pesonen are a couple well known to us from Sven Nordqvist's children's books: a lonely old man who lives with his Viiru cat and his hens in the countryside.
Paddington Bear is a small fluffy bear that was found sitting on an old leather suitcase at Paddington station. This is how the unforgettable story begins about a bear loved by everybody and loving above all marmelade.
Franklin is the children's favourite turtle since 20 years of adventures in children's story books. The Franklin books tell stories and adventures of the lovable turtle and other animal children.On the doors of InterCity restaurant cars you'll find the fingerprints of a man with six fingers in a hand and maybe you'll find the man himself. Arto Kukkasniemi has designed the fingerprints to indicate where to push to open the glass door.
Enjoy delicious food and sweets in the restaurant-car
The InterCity trains have a restaurant-car serving meals, refreshments and snacks. In most InterCity2 trains a minibar trolley moves through the train offering refreshments, hot drinks and snacks. Avecra Oy is responsible for train catering.
Have sweet dreams in a bunk bed in a night train
As a family you travel comfortably in a night train, as well. In the new doubledeck sleeping-cars you can book adjacent compartments on the lower floor that may be joined by opening the intermediate door. The new sleeping-cars are incorporated in the night express trains P265 and P274 between Helsinki and Kemijärvi.
The doubledeck sleeping-car compartments have a bunk bed, a radio, an alarm-clock and a pc plug. You can listen to the radio by using your own earphones or watch a movie on your own computer.Save the environment by travelling by train
Global warming is caused by millions of every day choices people make. When we use energy: lighting a lamp, taking hot water from the tap or moving from place to place consumes energy. Most often energy is produced from fossil fuels. Burning these fuels causes emissions and causes climate warming.
The ways to slow down global warming already exist. We can get energy from wind, water or the sun. Taking the cycle, bus or train also slows down global warming.
The train consumes less energy than for example the car, ship or plane. Therefore the train produces less emissions contributing to global warming.
Where would you rather travel by train with your family: to your grandmother's, amusement park or an adventure abroad with your family? How about taking a nap in the sleeping car or gazing at the scenery from the train window?
Allegro
The playroom makes the train journey a nice experience also for the children! Allegro features convenient space for prams and an accessible toilet with baby care equipment.
Stories about trains
VR and publishing house Tammi have cooperated to create a children's book on trains to celebrate VR's 150th anniversary. The book entitled Värssyveturi has a variety of poems, games and songs with a travel theme from many decades.The book contains poems such as Z. Topelius's Junailija and Finnish lyrics for the Orient Express, or Meksikon pikajuna, by Reino Helismaa and rules for a number of fun train games.
Värssyveturi will entertain the little travellers as it will be available in playrooms of InterCity trains. The book can be purchased from VR from February and will be available in book stores and libraries.
Travelling in comfort through the decades
View the playroom!
360˚ view »