Lapponia (train)
Encyclopedia
The Lapponia was an express passenger train operated by the Finnish State Railways, the predecessor of the current national rail traffic operator VR Group
. The Lapponia train
s operated on a direct route from Oulu
via Seinäjoki
and Tampere
to Helsinki
. Southbound Lapponia trains departed from Oulu at 7:00am, arriving in Helsinki at approximately 2:00pm. The returning northbound train left Helsinki at 4:00pm, arriving in Oulu at 10:45pm.
The Lapponia express train service began in 1974 as a fast and direct connection between Oulu and the nation's capital. In the beginning the trains had a maximum allowed speed of 120 kilometers per hour (74.5 miles per hour), but it was increased to 140 km/h (87.0 mph) in sections where the electrification was completed.
The Lapponia trains ran under that name until 1994 when Finnish State Railways discontinued the use of train-specific naming. More or less the same time express passenger trains were superseded by intercity train service.
The southbound Lapponia train (numbered EP 50) running on Oulu–Helsinki route stopped also at railway stations in Parkano
and Hämeenlinna
.
VR Group
VR or VR Group is a state-owned railway company in Finland. Formerly known as Suomen Valtion Rautatiet until 1922 and Valtionrautatiet / Statsjärnvägarna until 1995...
. The Lapponia train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
s operated on a direct route from Oulu
Oulu
Oulu is a city and municipality of inhabitants in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the most populous city in Northern Finland and the sixth most populous city in the country. It is one of the northernmost larger cities in the world....
via Seinäjoki
Seinäjoki
Seinäjoki is a city located in Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland. Seinäjoki originated around the Östermyra bruk iron and gunpowder factories founded in 1798. Seinäjoki became a municipality in 1868, market town in 1931 and town in 1960...
and Tampere
Tampere
Tampere is a city in southern Finland. It is the most populous inland city in any of the Nordic countries. The city has a population of , growing to approximately 300,000 people in the conurbation and over 340,000 in the metropolitan area. Tampere is the third most-populous municipality in...
to Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
. Southbound Lapponia trains departed from Oulu at 7:00am, arriving in Helsinki at approximately 2:00pm. The returning northbound train left Helsinki at 4:00pm, arriving in Oulu at 10:45pm.
The Lapponia express train service began in 1974 as a fast and direct connection between Oulu and the nation's capital. In the beginning the trains had a maximum allowed speed of 120 kilometers per hour (74.5 miles per hour), but it was increased to 140 km/h (87.0 mph) in sections where the electrification was completed.
The Lapponia trains ran under that name until 1994 when Finnish State Railways discontinued the use of train-specific naming. More or less the same time express passenger trains were superseded by intercity train service.
Scheduled stops for Lapponia trains in 1987
The northbound Lapponia train (numbered EP 57) running on Helsinki–Oulu route stopped in 1987 at following stations:- Helsinki CentralHelsinki Central railway stationHelsinki Central railway station is a widely recognised landmark in central Helsinki, Finland, and the focal point of public transport in the Greater Helsinki area. The station is used by approximately 200,000 passengers per day, making it Finland's most-visited building...
(the train originated at Ilmala yard) - TampereTampere railway stationThe Tampere railway station is a functionalist building in Tampere, Finland, designed by Eero Seppälä and Otto Flodin, completed in 1936. The 36-metre clock tower was later added because the Finnish railway bureau required it...
- SeinäjokiSeinäjoki railway stationThe Seinäjoki railway station is located in the centre of city of Seinäjoki, Finland, at Valtionkatu 1. The current station building was built in the 1970s, and it is located in the same building as the bus station. In the 2000s, the building was renovated as a modern travel centre.Seinäjoki is a...
- Kauhava
- Bennäs (Pännäinen)Bennäs railway stationBennäs railway station is located in the village of Bennäs in Pedersöre municipality, Ostrobothnia, Finland. The station building was completed in 1885....
- KokkolaKokkola railway stationKokkola railway station is located in the town of Kokkola, Central Ostrobothnia, Finland....
- Kannus
- YlivieskaYlivieska railway stationYlivieska railway station is located in the town of Ylivieska in Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland. The station building was completed in 1886....
- OulainenOulainen railway stationOulainen railway station is located in the center of the town of Oulainen, Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland. It was opened in 1886....
- VihantiVihanti railway stationVihanti railway station is located in the town of Vihanti, Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland....
- OuluOulu railway stationThe Oulu Railway Station is located in the centre of Oulu, Finland, in the city district of Vaara. All trains are operated by VR. Nearby is the bus station for long-distance buses....
, where the trains terminated
The southbound Lapponia train (numbered EP 50) running on Oulu–Helsinki route stopped also at railway stations in Parkano
Parkano railway station
The Parkano railway station is located in the town of Parkano, Finland. The station was opened for passenger and cargo traffic in 1971, and is located about six kilometres from the Parkano main urban area...
and Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna railway station
Hämeenlinna railway station is located in the town of Hämeenlinna, Finland....
.