Train travel between Russia and Finland has grown ‘considerably’ since the start of high speed Allegro services on 12 December 2010.
By the end of November 2011 around 280,000 trips were made between Helsinki and St. Petersburg, amounting to a nearly 50% increase in comparison with a corresponding period in 2010.
The growth is due to the ‘increased number of services in addition to reduced travel time and modern trains’.
Allegro services started with two return services. At the end of May 2011 the number of daily return services grew to four.
The growth in the number of passengers on the Allegro is expected to continue.
The aim is ‘500,000 trips per year by 2015’, says VR’s Director of long distance services, Ari Vanhanen.
Most of the Allegro’s passengers are Russian but the share of Finnish passengers has grown, Vanhanen said.
The number of passengers from other countries arriving in Finland on the Allegro service ‘has increased’.
According to a recent study on travel in neighbouring areas, St. Petersburg is ‘nearly as popular as a travel destination among the Finnish than Tallinn and Stockholm’.
Trips made by Finnish people to Russia are ‘still mainly business trips whereas Russians come to Finland for the most part on leisure trips’.
