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Loading a car onto the train

We will help you load and unload your car during a CarTrain journey.

Save an entire day of your trip onboard CarTrain

You arrive in a flash when you load your car onto the train and sleep overnight in the sleeping compartment. Loading a car or a motorcycle onto the train is easier than you think!

See instruction video on loading
Check where your closest car-carrier station is
Check the car-carrier stations

There’s no need to be nervous about the loading

As a rule, drivers load and unload their cars onto the train by themselves. In some cases, we can load the car for you.

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Practical tips for car-carrier passengers

A car-carrier takes you and your car or motorcycle from one end of Finland to the other. What should you consider before the trip and at the car-carrier stations? Read our tips for a successful and comfortable journey!

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Remember the following when loading your car onto the train

There’s no need to be nervous about the loading

This is how you load your car by yourself

  • As a rule, you will always load and unload your own car by yourself.
  • Especially non-standard (e.g. lowered) vehicles and cars with trailers must always be loaded and unloaded by the driver.
  • We want to make sure that you are safe – please load and unload your car when you are alone. Meanwhile, your travel companion can have a cup of coffee at the station.
  • Reserve enough time for loading the car. You can find the exact load time on your ticket.
  • Remember to pack a separate overnight bag to take with you whatever you may need in the sleeping compartment. The rest of the baggage you can leave in the car.
  • Once you have loaded your car, engage the car’s parking brake, turn off the air-conditioning/heating and lock the car.
  • For safety reasons, it is necessary to leave the car-carrier wagon after loading the vehicle.
  • We recommend turning the car alarm off for the duration of the train journey. The vibration and movement of the train can easily set the alarm off.
  • There’s no need to be nervous about the loading or unloading – our employees will help you throughout all the stages of it.

When we will load your car for you

  • If you cannot load or unload your car yourself, we will load it for you. Please note that you cannot change the car loader afterward.
  • You might be unable to load or unload your car yourself when you are, for example, travelling alone with kids or if you are disabled or have mobility impairments.
  • Always remember to choose the car loading service already when purchasing the ticket to your car. The service is free of charge.
  • Park your car for loading in a designated parking space at the departure date.
  • You can find the exact load time on your ticket.
  • Bring your car to the loading site and hand over the keys to VR staff at least 30 minutes before loading begins.
  • Deliver the keys to the hand-over location well in advance.
  • Print out your ticket and attach it to the keys. You can also write the ticket information on a paper (name, phone number, departure date, train, departure station, destination station, car make and model, and registration number).
  • Parking spaces and places for handing over the keys are station-specific and you can find them on the station’s website.

Timetables for night trains and car-carrier trains

We have published our new timetables, and you can now buy night train tickets until Dec 9 2023.

View timetables

Car-carrier stations

Check the maps, parking spaces and places for handing over the keys from station-specific information.

Motorcycles are always loaded by their rider

This is how you load a motorcycle onto the train

  • You will always load and unload your own motorcycle by yourself.
  • The motorcycle is fastened onto the car carrier wagon with straps. Please see the video below for instructions.
  • We want to make sure that you are safe – please load and unload your motorcycle alone. Meanwhile, your travel companion can have a cup of coffee at the station.
  • Reserve enough time for loading the bike. You can find the exact load time on your ticket.
  • There’s no need to be nervous about the loading or unloading – our employees will help you throughout all the stages of it.