Today’s live text updates

06 Sep, 18:38

265
19:29 Helsinki - Kemijärvi 08:50

Distance: 984.5km
Avg speed: 74km/h

14 stops:
Pasila
Tikkurila
Riihimäki
Hämeenlinna/Tavastehus
Tampere/Tammerfors
Parkano
Seinäjoki
Kokkola/Karleby
Ylivieska
Oulu/Uleaborg
Kemi
Rovaniemi
Misi
Kemijärvi

🚆 mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-autumn-2026-inc-longest-train-jour_1443266#6/63.636337/25.023995

#CrossBorderRail #LongestTrainEU

#CrossBorderRail Autumn 2026, inc. Longest train journey in the EU

Tours in Autumn 2026.Each day of the project is a Layer in the map - these should be displayed by default, or if not click the three layered diamonds icon "Open browser" to the left side of the map.The icons are all for borders, roughly coloured to differentiate the borders. A cross through a track means NO TRAINS CAN RUN. A cross through trains but not track means TRAINS CAN RUN BUT NO PASSENGER TRAINS. And TRAIN AND TRACK (no crosses) means there is a passenger service.

06 Sep, 18:37

#CrossBorderRail to/from #LongestTrainEU Train 11 of 45
265
19:29 Helsinki - Kemijärvi 08:50
VR

🚆: SLM, ABB Sr2 Lok 2000, 9 double deck sleeping cars, 2 double deck carriages, 1 single deck restaurant, 6 short car wagons
⚡️ (25kV ac)
🚲: ✅
🦽: ✅
🛜: ✅
🍽️: ✅ (full dining car)
🧳: 🙂
🧽: 🙂 (inside spotless, windows a little grimy)
Interrail: 😐 (compulsory res, depends on type of accommodation)

06 Sep, 12:15

This is today‘s #CrossBorderRail #LongestTrainEU intro video https://peertube.netzbegruenung.de/w/sM9veCaRHmeDHmbkxMByNJ

It explains what’s happening today

The actual record bid starts Monday at 1900 EEST in Kemijärvi

#CrossBorderRail live stream - 9/6/2026, 8:58:19 AM

06 Sep, 12:09

Welcome to today's thread - #CrossBorderRail to/from #LongestTrainEU Day 0 - 6 Sep - Helsinki, onto night train

Today the trip north to Kemijärvi starts!

04 Sep, 14:26

How am I back in Helsinki for the second time in 5 weeks? 🤔 And no flights involved. And Bourgogne is a long way from here! #LongestTrainEU

04 Sep, 11:30

Busy morning preparing things. Newsletter done. #LongestTrainEU follow up done. And my ferry is docking in Helsinki.

Text updates are auto-generated from Mastodon – follow me on Mastodon @jon@gruene.social
Some updates will also be occasionally be posted on Bluesky – follow me @jonworth.eu 

Today’s introduction and summary videos

All the #CrossBorderRail daily videos are on my Peertube channel

Today’s photos

Today’s background

New borders:
Akniste 🇱🇻 – Rokiškis 🇱🇹 (Former 600mm gauge line during WWI)
Subate 🇱🇻 – Obeliai 🇱🇹 (600mm gauge)
Eglaine 🇱🇻 – Obeliai 🇱🇹
Eglaine 🇱🇻 – Czarny Brod 🇱🇹 (Possible former 600mm gauge line during WWI)
Nereta 🇱🇻 – Suvainiškis 🇱🇹 (Former 600mm gauge line during WWI)

Borders already crossed:
None

New borders! The first time in a while.

And a day completely without trains.

For this day I am using my replacement Birdy folding bike, because I have to leave that bike in Helsinki when I get there later in the week. And on this day of the project I am going to try to get to five border lines – four former narrow gauge lines from WWI, and a freight only active line. It is only the latter that I expect to have any hope! 

Today’s route

The full zoomable and scrollable map, including today’s route, is on uMap here.