A pilot run of the steam train, powered by the old Ukko-Pekka locomotive, will be made as early as the beginning of December. The aim is to turn the steam train trip to the western border into a year-round tourist product.
A tourist service is being set up at the national border in Lapland, where tourists can reach their destination by Ukko-Pekka locomotive.
The first journey of the old steam-powered train will run from Kemi to Pello on 4 December. The steam train is also scheduled to visit Haparanda in Sweden. The train will be in Pello at noon and the return journey to Kemi will start around 2 pm.
This pilot trip has a Christmas theme, but the plan is to make train journeys a year-round tourist product for different seasons of the year. Themes could include things like the Northern Lights, raisins and the nightless night.
The project is being implemented by the Meri-Lap travel agency and the Kouvola-based steam train owner Höyryjunamatkat1009 oy. The municipalities of Meri-Lap and the western border also participate with a small contribution.
The locomotive is a Ukko-Pekka steam locomotive built in 1948, with the number 1009. There are only two of these attention-grabbing big haulers in running condition, one of which is owned by VR.
Interest is strong, says the project’s promoter
– When I have toured the municipalities, the enthusiasm is huge in every municipality, that you have to come along. The municipalities are involved in this, from Simo to Enontekiö, as long as Enontekiö makes a positive decision about joining the project.
Municipalities benefit from tourists who stay in hotels and cabins and use a wider range of activities – also at times other than Christmas and spring holidays.
– In addition to the train journey, there will be other year-round tourism. The goal is to sell overnight stays and activities to municipalities. We, as organizers of the trip, take care of including other activities in the same package, says Seppo Lankinen.
– The richness here is that when the entire western part of the county is involved from south to north, we are able to offer different activities throughout the year, which will surely interest customers from all over Europe and the world, Lankinen believes.
Train tickets were bought on the day of the launch
The December pilot trip was announced on the Meri-Lap travel agency’s website and information was shared on Facebook. Twenty tickets were sold as soon as they went on sale.
According to Louste, the reception has been positive and the first to buy tickets have naturally been the residents of the nearby area, Meri-Lap.
– Families and couples from the Kemi-Tornio area, local people, says Louste.
The texts about the steam train journey have only just been translated into English and placed in the online store intended for international customers. The fact that the trips are only coming on one single day at first will limit the participation of foreign customers, Louste believes.
The first trip is important anyway.
– I want to see that test trip, collect feedback, and then we will summarize and plan ahead. This pilot thing is really important, says Irina Louste, CEO of Meri-Lap travel agency.
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