CarTrain journeys

When you transport your car by train the whole family can take it easy. After a good night's sleep you feel refreshed and ready to drive. A one or two compartment CarTrain package includes train tickets, sleeping berths and car transport.

On this page

Planning your CarTrain journey

VR's web pages provide useful information if you plan to transport your car by train to Lapland. On the Lapland pages you can find information on e.g.:

  • Timetables. View car-carrier train timetables.
  • Car-carrier fares. Check whether the intended travel date is in low season or high season. The price of the ticket also depends on whether you travel in a new sleeping-car or the older blue ones. CarTrain package prices.

Booking a car-carrier space or package

  • You can book a car-carrier space one year before the journey or on the day of travel, if space is available. On holiday seasons in particular car spaces are in great demand so you should book your ticket when you have finalized your travel plans.
  • You can book a car space and CarTrain package at VR station booking offices, sales agents or by calling VR Customer Care tel. 0600 41 902 (1 €/call + local network charge).
  • When booking your journey state the make, model and registration number of your car.
  • It is important to say whether you car has a roof box or whether your car's height exceeds 1.65 m. A limited number of spaces are available for high vehicles and vehicles with roof boxes.
  • If your car has a particularly heavy load check load limits when booking your ticket.

Collecting train tickets

  • Tickets shall be collected at a VR station booking office or sales agent one month before departure date, at the latest.
  • If the departure date is one month from date of booking or less the ticket shall be paid within two days of booking.
  • If train departure date is in two days or less the ticket shall be paid on the day the booking is made.

Loading your car

You can drive your car yourself on the car-carrier wagon, if you wish. Check the loading times on your ticket and arrive at the loading site well in advance. The vehicles are loaded in the order that they arrive at the loading site. A marking on the ticket does not guarantee a specific space but only the fact that a space of sufficient height is available.

Car loading stations:

Helsinki
Tampere
Turku
Oulu
Rovaniemi
Kolari

Please take note of the following facts:

  • Only the driver may be inside the car when it is loaded on the car-carrier wagon.
  • All personal belongings needed during the train journey shall be removed from the car before loading.
  • The car shall be locked and fresh air nozzles shall be closed during transport. Specific instructions applying to your car make shall be followed.

You can also leave your car to be loaded by VR personnel. VR drives your car on the car-carrier wagon and delivers the keys to the destination station. (Please note! The driver shall always drive a car-trailer combination on the car-carrier wagon.)

When you want VR to load your car:

  • Park your car in the car-carrier wagon loading site parking space on the departure date. You can check the location of the parking space from VR Customer Care or a VR station booking office.
  • Leave your keys at the departure station booking office, in Tampere at the platform office at platform 1, in Helsinki at station service.
  • Car keys left at a VR office can be collected at the booking office of the destination station (in Helsinki at station service).

VR does not bear responsibility if the vehicle cannot be loaded due to causes beyond VR's control.

If you wish you can have your car transported to your destination station 1-5 days before you travel. VR will take care of unloading the car.

Please note! Importer's regulations shall be followed when transporting Mitsubishi Pajero and VW Transporter diesel vehicles in winter time. The vehicles shall be loaded with the rear of the vehicle facing the front of the train in the old car-carrier wagons.

At the destination station

  • If you drive your car yourself out of the car-carrier wagon you have to come to the unloading area immediately after the train arrives at your destination station.
  • When VR takes care of unloading, the car is parked in the station parking space where the car is stored at the liability of the customer. Many stations have power sockets for engine heaters in their parking space.
  • Check your car after driving the car out of the car-carrier wagon before leaving the loading area. Notify VR personnel of any damage you suspect your car incurred during transport.
  • If the vehicle is loaded in winter time in an open-air car space check before starting the motor that there is no snow or ice in the motor compartment. VR will not compensate for damage to the motor caused by snow or ice when starting the motor.

If your travel plans change

You can change the travel date for the car space or package you have booked or you can cancel it.
Change and cancellation of car-carrier package ticket »

VR conditions of car carriage

Please read the VR conditions of car carriage to ensure a smooth journey.

Further information

If you have any additional questions please call VR Customer Care, tel. 0600 41 902 (1 €/call + local network charge. You may want to make a list of questions and special requests before calling.