VR sees huge passengers rush during ski holidays

The ski holiday already started from Southern parts in the country on January 16 and will be observed at the middle and northern parts of the countries during the next couple of weeks.

According to national railway operator VR, the biggest traveling rush of passengers were on the last weekends on February 16 to February 18 while further rush is expected on February 23 to -25.

Lapland’s destinations are the most popular and the tickets for night trains to the northern part are practically sold out, said VR.

The holidays of the South already began on February 16 and most of the holidaymakers traveled to Oulu, Kemijärvi, Kolari, and Rovaniemi from Helsinki.

Passengers travelling to Lapland by trains increased by four percent in 2017. Asian tourists traveling to Lapland has grown significantly resulting the increase of passengers in this route.

Following the growth, VR will introduce a new shift to Helsinki-Kolari route in both ways in the Summer of 2018. In addition to this, altogether 12 new shifts for trains will be added during the autumn season.

The year also begins with huge passengers travelling by train and in January, the number of passengers traveling by train has increased by 9 percent compared to the stipulated period of previous year.

There is a remarkably strong growth between big cities. The growth between Helsinki and Oulu was 24%, Helsinki and Jyväskylä 21%, and Helsinki and Lappeenranta 18%.