Every journey has its story
Do you have a story to share?
Do you have a story about the freedom to travel? Tell us about a funny incident or unforgettable encounter you’ve had whilst travelling, or how you pass the time on the train. Your story might bring a smile to travellers’ faces here, or perhaps feature in our next radio spot or social media post.
Share your story and take part in a raffle
When you share your story with us, you’ll also be entered into a prize draw where you could win return flights for two on the route of your choice.
Story carriage
Tutustu tarinoihin junamatkustamisen vapaudesta.
Hamster on the loose
As a young student in the 1990s, I was travelling from Helsinki to Kuopio for the weekend to visit my family. I had brought my pet hamster, Pavarotti, along in a small cardboard box. I dozed off for a moment, only to wake up to someone shouting, “Help, help! There’s a mouse!” I immediately knew what had happened: Pavarotti had chewed his way out of the box. I crawled along the train aisle looking for my runaway hamster, apologising awkwardly and explaining that the “mouse” was actually my hamster. Eventually, Pavarotti was found, and I spent the rest of the journey trying to keep him from making another escape. The whole thing still makes me laugh, even 35 years later. – Päivi from Helsinki
A conversation to remember
I was travelling to Tampere on a packed morning train when a younger woman sat down next to me. We started chatting about the sunny weather, and as the journey went on, our conversation turned to life: what we had studied when we were younger and what dreams we had for the future. The journey took around six hours, and we talked the whole way. It was surprisingly comforting to talk so openly with a complete stranger. We never even exchanged names. I came away from the journey with such a warm feeling – one that has stayed with me ever since. – Tarja from Rovaniemi
Meeting a former train driver
I travel by train every week for work, and I can honestly say that every journey really is its own little adventure. Once, after a long working week, I sat down in the restaurant car for a drink. Before long, an older gentleman asked if he could join me. As we chatted, I found out that he was a retired train driver with decades of experience. He told me it still felt a little strange to sit among the passengers, watching the railway rush past instead of keeping an eye on the tracks ahead from the driver’s cab. For the rest of the journey, I got to hear all kinds of stories about life as a train driver – and how, from the driver’s point of view too, every journey had been its own kind of adventure. After talking to him, I feel confident that I’m in safe hands whenever I’m on a train. – A daily passenger