On December 12, 2021, high-speed train Allegro made its first flight from St. Petersburg to Finland’s capital Helsinki since it was stopped in March 2020. With just two daily departures in each direction versus four ones in the pre-Covid times, the service is limited to only Russian and Finnish nationals.
While some other kinds of transportation were gradually getting back to life for the last year, trains had been idle till December 12. Another Russia-Finland train Leo Tolstoy connecting Moscow and Helsinki via St. Petersburg is still in its depot with no even talks about future resurrection.
Timetable and prices for the Allegro train between St. Petersburg and Helsinki
At the moment, Allegro will be doing two daily trips from St. Petersburg’s Finlayndsky vokzal railway station to the Helsinki Central Station, one in the morning and one in the evening:
— at 06:40 (on Sundays, on December 25, 2021 and from 1 to 9 January, 2022 at 11:30);
— at 15:30.
From Helsinki:
— at 06:17 (on Sundays, on December 25, 2021 and from 1 to 9 January, 2022 at 09:57);
— at 14:57.
Fare starts from 59 euro for the 2nd class of service and 104 euro for the 1st class. Prices will increase a bit in January.
Restrictions due to Covid
There are strict Covid-19 restrictions onboard. Only Russian and Finnish nationals are allowed on the train, according to the Russian government’s decree. The Finnish entering Russia are required to show a negative PCR-test made within 48 hours before the arrival (yes, in Russia it’s 48, not 72 as in the rest of the world according to a recent sanitary watchdog decree).
The Russians must be vaccinated against the coronavirus by one of the vaccines approved by the European Union or need to be tested one or two times depending on their vaccination status. Before the results of the tests are known they must be self-isolated.
All passengers and staff are required to wear face masks. A body temperature check is also conducted.
As non-essential travel is still forbidden between the countries, only limited categories of passengers are allowed to cross the border, including those traveling on business, with education and medical purposes, or on special occasions, for example, an own wedding (sounds like a plan).
What about other carriers to Finland?
After the re-launch, the only transport service that has not yet come back to life is the ferry line of Moby SPL. The company’s only ship Princess Anastasia made its last trip in late 2019 and could not resume trips because of technical problems. Then the pandemic has erupted thwarting all the plans. The ferry is now a hotel in the Murmansk region.
Aviation and coach operators have been working since 2020 and 2021. Finnair has a few flights a week from St. Petersburg Pulkovo airport to Helsinki’s Vantaa. Buses of coach operators Sovavto and Lux Express cross the border also a few times a week.