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Coryza
Traveller
57 comments

Posted 8 years ago

I've stumbled upon a piece of information that I would like to share, and hopefully someone can confirm whether this is true or not.

Since the demise of bus operator Veljekset Salmela, international rail
tickets are no longer valid on the cross-border bus route between
Haparanda / Tornio and Kemi (Finland) (Table 768).
www.europebyrail.eu/downloads/newslines/ert-newslines-mar-2016.pdf

So.. I assume htis also counts for Interrail Tickets?

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Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

replied 8 years ago

Hi!

I know, this has been mentioned in the European Rail Timetable too. I have also contacted Veljekset Salmela for confirmation regarding Interrail about one month ago but havent received an answer yet. :|
Maybe you would want to try your luck: Tornion.toimisto _at_ VeljeksetsalmelaOy.fi :)


Flo 8)

EDIT: When I was travelling there in 2013 we have been using buses of operator NET-Matkat where Interrail was accepted too. I also had a quick search and it seems that Veljekset Salmela had to file bankruptcy in January...and the Finnish schedule planner doesnt show their buses anymore...of course I contacted them as well but am waiting for response too... ;)

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Peter
Traveller
9326 comments

replied 8 years ago

Hi...

Beside the topic free or not free here the blog, nice to read: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/kemi-lulea-bus/[/u]

Pete :)

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Coryza
Traveller
57 comments

replied 7 years ago

I've emailed the company that shows (one of) the Haparanda-Kemi bus schedules...

Dear Koen Nijbroek,

Thank you for you message.

Unfortunately InterRail pass is not valid from Haparanda to Kemi.


Kind regards,
_________________________________________________
Kim Vaisanen, Customer Service
Matkahuolto Ltd
Lauttasaarentie 8, P.O.Box 111, FI-00201 HELSINKI, FINLAND

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Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

replied 7 years ago

Alright - I'd be curious to hear from the actualy bus company though. :)

I've contacted Net-Matkat by mail in February and now wrote them on Facebook. If you want to try your luck: <!-- e -->[u]mailto:net@net-matkat.fi[/u]<!-- e -->

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Coryza
Traveller
57 comments

replied 7 years ago

Apparently I have a lot of luck...

Hi!

Yes is it still valid!


NET-Matkat

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Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

replied 7 years ago

Haha nice! :)
Thanks, good news at last.

Did you write them a mail?
I wrote them on FB:
[img:1ncr3fk8]http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/47/47091f9958b495d4fec142335ce190392693299035abda7d4886d364b729f9e4.jpg[/img:1ncr3fk8]

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Coryza
Traveller
57 comments

replied 7 years ago

I've send them an email. A simple one-liner was rather effective it seems.

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Coryza
Traveller
57 comments

replied 7 years ago

Hereby the free bus schedule!

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sebhoff
Traveller
6 comments

replied 7 years ago

OK - this is an old thread, but here's some information straight from the horse's mouth (in this case, the driver of the 15:05 bus I took a few hours ago): No, Interrail/Eurail tickets are definitely *not* valid for travel between Haparanda/Tornio and Kemi. A ticket costs 5.90€, and the bus also doesn't stop at the train station in Kemi, as suggested by the timetable. But it's only a 3-minute walk from the bus station to the railway station.
The driver also said that the Interrail ticket might be valid on buses from another company (not a long distance bus company), but he didn't know more about it (and I couldn't find anything doing a quick search). I suspect it's best to just fork out the 5.90€... 8)
BTW, the bus terminal in Haparanda/Tornio is right opposite a huge IKEA - and if you arrive from Luleå, there is just enough time to have lunch at the restaurant. Count in 5 minutes in and out to navigate through the place, though - I didn't find a shortcut.

PS: My ticket was valid on the Luleå to Haparanda leg of the journey.

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Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

replied 7 years ago

Thanks for the update!
Do you know by any chance the name of the bus company? At [u]http://matkahuolto.fi/[/u] I can find a 1505 departure (Haparanda - Kemi) operated by Ketosen Liikenne Oy - a single ticket is offered at 6,80€ though.. :D
The local buses operated by NET Matkat which used to accept Interrail do not run on Sundays.

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sebhoff
Traveller
6 comments

replied 7 years ago

Yes - that's the name of the company. Maybe I was given a student ticket? There was a Japanese student just in front of me and I think he was showing his student ID. Maybe the driver thought I was a student, too - although I'm clearly *much* older... :D

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Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

replied 7 years ago

Yup, Opiskelija means student. And the bus was a long-distance express (pika) bus as oposed to the regular local buses.