The Allegro trains that ran between Helsinki and St Petersburg from 2010 to 2022 are being redeployed on state railways VR's domestic routes.
The four Sm6 trains will begin service on VR routes between the capital and Turku and Oulu. The trains will be rebranded as Pendolino Plus and resume service towards the end of this year, the rail operator said on Thursday.
VR halted Allegro train services between Helsinki and St Petersburg in March 2022 after Russia began its full-scale war on Ukraine. The route had already had low passenger numbers for a couple of years due to pandemic-related travel restrictions.
VR's director of long-distance transport, Piia Tyynilä, tells Yle that the trains remain in good condition. Built in 2010 by French manufacturer Alstom, they were overhauled in 2018-19.
New travel class onboard
According to Tyynilä, ticket prices will be set in the cheapest, or Eco, class in the same way as they are now on Pendolino trains.
The starting prices are the same as for other trains, but prices will be dynamically determined by demand, rising as the departure time approaches.
The Pendolino Plus trains will feature a new, pricier Ekstra Plus class. This will offer more onboard staff and the option to pre-order a meal to your seat, for example.
Pendolino Plus trains will run from the capital to Oulu and Turku.
"These trains offer great comfort on long journeys, and business travellers generally appreciate that. That's why we want to launch them on these routes," explained Tyynilä.
The Allegro trains were previously owned by a joint venture between VR and Russian Railways but have been fully owned by VR since 2023.
Users with an Yle ID can leave comments on our news stories. You can create your Yle ID via this link. Our guidelines on commenting and moderation are explained here.