2026 timetables: new long-distance train services and timetable improvements on eastern routes
Long-distance traffic services offer new connections to the routes to Kuopio, Joensuu and Oulu. There will be changes to commuter traffic in the eastern direction, particularly on the Helsinki-Lahti-Kouvola-Kotka axis. The new timetables will begin from 14 December 2025.
We are adding new train services to the Joensuu, Oulu and Kuopio routes at the most in-demand times based on customer demand. The new services provide additional options and more flexibility and comfort to travelling.
Together with the municipalities, we are also making significant timetable changes in eastern commuter train contract traffic. The changes will improve transfer connections and make travel smoother, especially on the Helsinki-Lahti-Kouvola-Kotka axis.
New services in long-distance traffic:
Kuopio
From 14 December 2025, there will be eight new departures on the Kuopio route via Kouvola and Mikkeli as well as via Tampere and Jyväskylä between Friday and Sunday.
- On Fridays and Sundays from Helsinki to Kuopio at 9.30 a.m. via Kouvola and Mikkeli
- On Saturdays from Helsinki to Kuopio at 3:24 p.m. via Kouvola and Mikkeli
- From Friday to Sunday from Kuopio to Helsinki at 1:00 p.m. via Kouvola and Mikkeli (from 2 February 2026 also on Mondays)
- On Saturdays from Helsinki to Kuopio at 12:00 via Tampere and Jyväskylä
- On Sundays from Kuopio to Helsinki at 10:06 a.m. via Tampere and Jyväskylä (from 2 February 2026 also on Saturdays)
In addition to the train services starting in December, the timetable offering will be supplemented from 2 February 2026 by a service running via Kouvola from Helsinki to Kuopio at 3:24 p.m. on Fridays and Sundays.
Joensuu
From 14 December 2025, eight new departures will operate on the Joensuu route via Lappeenranta and Imatra.
- From Friday to Sunday from Helsinki to Joensuu at 12:14 p.m. (from 2 February 2026 also on Thursdays)
- On Fridays from Helsinki to Joensuu at 8.30 a.m. (from 2 February 2026 also on Saturdays)
- On Fridays and Sundays from Joensuu to Helsinki at 1:31 p.m.
- Mondays and Saturdays from Joensuu to Helsinki at 10:15 a.m. (from 2 February 2026 also on Fridays and Sundays)
In addition, the first morning route from Joensuu to Helsinki will depart one hour earlier from Monday to Saturday. In future, a train arriving at 8:40 a.m. will reach Helsinki or Helsinki Airport by 9 a.m. in the morning, which will make it easier for both commuters and air passengers to travel to the capital region.
Oulu
In addition to Pendolino Plus traffic, Oulu’s train connections will be more diverse in December, with the following new routes and services starting from 14 December:
- On weekdays from Helsinki to Oulu at 2.54 p.m. via Tampere
- On Sundays, a direct connection from Turku to Oulu at 11:05 a.m., which also stops at Pietarsaari-Pedersöre station
- On Sundays from Oulu to Helsinki at 6:17 p.m., also stopping at minor stations north of Seinäjoki
- On Sundays from Oulu to Seinäjoki at 11:55 a.m., offering more connections towards the south from minor stations
- On Saturdays, IC25 from Helsinki will continue from Oulu to Rovaniemi at 6 p.m., supplementing the Saturday evening service offer
- On Sundays, IC 26, a direct connection from Rovaniemi at 11:00 a.m. via Oulu to Helsinki
Changes in commuter traffic services:
We work together with municipalities to make significant timetable changes in eastern train traffic. The changes will improve transfer connections and make travel smoother, especially on the Helsinki-Lahti-Kouvola-Kotka axis.
Helsinki–Lahti (Z trains)
- Most Z trains will depart 10 min later from Helsinki
- Correspondingly, trains from Lahti to Helsinki depart approximately 10 min earlier
- The change does not apply to early morning and late evening trains or rush hour trains operated on weekdays during commuting times
- The transfer times will be shorter from Z trains at Kerava to R trains to Riihimäki direction and at Lahti to long-distance trains in an eastern direction, which will speed up travel times to Lappeenranta, Kuopio and Joensuu, for example
Lahti–Kouvola
- Timetable changes to train departure times from Lahti and Kouvola
- On weekends, a service departing from Kouvola at 4:09 p.m. will be replaced by a later service departing at 6:02 p.m. based on our customers’ wishes
Kouvola–Port of Kotka
- New departure from the Port of Kotka on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:53 a.m. and all weekdays at 6:14 p.m. (Mon–Sun)
- New departure from Kouvola at 2:08 p.m. on all weekdays
- The departure times have been adjusted in cooperation with the cities of Kotka and Kouvola and Kymenlaakso Central Hospital to improve local connections.
