Russia's Allegro Trains to Resume Passenger Rail Links with Finland

In accordance with Decree No. 3422 issued by the Government of the Russian Federation on 2 December 2021, passenger rail services with Finland are to be resumed.

After a long interruption due to the coronavirus, high-speed Allegro train services between St. Petersburg and Helsinki will resume from 12 December.

For the time being, two pairs of trains will run daily according to the timetable below:

St. Petersburg (Finland Station) – Helsinki

Helsinki – St. Petersburg (Finland Station)

Passengers should note that both countries have introduced anti-epidemic measures which will be in effect on long-distance trains between Russia and Finland in order to ensure the safe transportation of travelers.

Before boarding their train, passengers will have their temperature measured remotely without the need for any physical contact, Passengers will need to use personal protective equipment throughout their journey.

In addition, in accordance with Resolution No. 8 issued by the Chief Sanitary Doctor for Railway Transport of the Russian Federation on 17 November 2021, Finnish citizens entering Russia must have with them a negative PCR test taken at least 3 calendar days before arriving in the territory of the Russian Federation and during their journey fill out a questionnaire in the requisite form and present it to a member of the train personnel.

Russian citizens arriving from Finland must fill out a questionnaire on the Unified Portal of State and Municipal Services (EPGU in Russian) after purchasing their ticket and will need to undergo a PCR test within 72 hours from the date of their arrival (except for those vaccinated against COVID-19 within the last 12 months (QR code available)). Alternatively, those who have had a disease in the last 6 months must post the results/information about the past disease or vaccination on the EPGU portal. Passengers must also observe the quarantine and isolation regime at their place of residence (stay) prior to receiving the test results.

Passengers entering Finland must provide a certificate of vaccination with a vaccine approved in Finland (see the list on the THL website). In other cases, the necessity of crossing the border will be assessed on a case-by-case basis within the framework of border control.

Thus, citizens of Finland and their family members living in Finland, citizens of the EU and Schengen countries, as well as their family members, citizens of third countries living in Finland on the basis of a residence permit, and British citizens and their family members living in Finland, can return to Finland, as well as transit to or transit through other EU and Schengen countries.

Passengers will be able to purchase tickets and find out their cost and other detailed information about the Allegro timetable in the near future on the official website of Russian Railways and the RZD Passengers app, as well as at rail ticket offices.

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