Aurora Borealis Express

{{Short description|Express train in Finland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{italic title}}

{{Infobox rail service

|name = Aurora Borealis Express

|logo = Aurora_Borealis_Nameboard.jpeg

|image = Express_train_270_at_Ylitornio_station_2009-04-10.jpg

|caption = Aurora Borealis Express in Ylitornio

|status = Train service still active but the brand name not used by VR anymore

|operator = VR

|ridership = 75 000 per year{{cite web|title=Kaukoliikenteen matkat vuonna 2019|website=vayla.fi|language=fi|access-date=10 September 2023|url=https://vayla.fi/documents/25230764/35410603/Rautateiden+kaukoliikennevirrat+2019_180220b.pdf/69751fac-f318-4ed1-b83a-af501ad3adf2/Rautateiden+kaukoliikennevirrat+2019_180220b.pdf?t=1589211737118}}

|website=https://www.vr.fi/yojunat

|start = Helsinki

|stops = 16

|end = Kolari

|distance = 997 km

|journeytime = 14 hours|frequency=0-2 trains per day

|line_used = Helsinki-Riihimäki, Riihimäki-Tampere, Tampere-Seinäjoki, Pohjanmaa railway, Oulu-Tornio, Kolari railway

|class = Eco-class,sleeper class.

|seating = One seating car

|sleeping = 6-10 sleeping cars

|autorack = 2-4 car carrier wagons

|catering = Restaurant car

|baggage = Luggage compartment

|otherfacilities = Servies for disabled people, telephone booths

|stock = VR blue cars and InterCity cars

|gauge = 1524 mm

|speed = 100 km per hour

|trainlength = 500 m

|owners = VR

|routenumber = 263-262 & 269-270/272/276

}}

The Aurora Borealis Express is an overnight express train operating between Helsinki and Kolari in Finland. The train travels via many major cities and towns in Finland, and stops at most of them. The total distance is a little under 1000 kilometers, and lasts for 14½ hours to 16 hours depending on direction and season. {{cite web|url=https://juliadata.fi/timetables?s=263&d=27.3.2020|title=Julia.dy.fi|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}} The service is bi-directional, with a corresponding train operating southwards over the same route.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vr.fi/cs/vr/fi/juna-aikataulut|title=VR Aikataulut|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321222824/https://www.vr.fi/cs/vr/fi/juna-aikataulut |archive-date=2019-03-21 |access-date=}}

File:Aurora Borealis Coaches.JPG

The train consists of seven to ten sleeping cars, two open seating cars and one restaurant car. The sleeper cars are a mix of old blue cars and new intercity double decker cars. The restaurant car and coach class car are modern intercity cars,with the restaurant being a single decker car and the coach car a double decker one. The service is the last one that uses blue sleeper cars outside of the peak season making the cars quite rare. A few car carrier wagons are added at the end of the train to transport cars.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vr.fi/cs/vr/en/night-and-car-carrier-trains|title=VR Kulkutiedot|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722061517/https://www.vr.fi/cs/vr/en/night-and-car-carrier-trains |archive-date=2017-07-22 |access-date=}} On the last distance from Oulu to Kolari the electric locomotive is switched out for a diesel locomotive since the railway line to Kolari isn't electrified.

The train travels northbound and southbound on varying days of the week, depending upon the time of year. Passenger demand is variable, and somewhat seasonal.

File:Finnish railroad network-en.svg