Bus and Trains in Finland are.......

[Mikkeli]

So expensive



Like Mikkel to Helsinki 80 euro approx (ret)

here in ireland from Wexford to Dublin (same distance is 12 euro ret)

[Hank W.]

You pay the extra for them being in time

Apart from which Dublin-Wexford is 140km or so, and Helsinki -Mikkeli is 240.

[Matula]

A student ticket Helsinki-Tampere (170 km) is 12,50 EUR.

[Hank W.]

Nonstop express supplement is the same on top though.

[Karhunkoski]

So expensive


Like Mikkel to Helsinki 80 euro approx (ret)

here in ireland from Wexford to Dublin (same distance is 12 euro ret)

Are you perhaps talking about the Wrexford Train, which I believe is run by a company that only operates the Rosslare-Dublin route, I found a picture:




Trains are not expensive in Finland, in fact the ticket you buy is actually heavily subsidised by the government already. Students can also get a whopping 50% reduction too if they have the right papers.

Cork to Dublin (260km) might be a reasonable comparison to Helsinki to Mikkeli (240km). Both are for a reserved seat:

Adult Ticket Dublin to Cork = €34
Student Ticket Dublin to Cork = €28


Adult Ticket Helsinki to Mikkeli = €36.30 or €37.15
Student Ticket Helsinki to Mikkeli = €18.15 or €17.05

So for similar journeys, in Finland an adult would pay €3.15 or €2.30 more and a student would pay over 10 euros less.


And whilst you're in Mikkeli, if you're remotely interested in military history, drop in to see the tanks and guns (for free!) at the old barracks. Also Mannerheim's headquarters, his bunker and the old barracks not far from the town centre are all fascinating. Ask away if you need any further info.

[snowcelt]

Hi,

ok, it might seem expensive but compared to feckin CIE, the quality of trains here is leagues ahead of what you get in Ireland. You can pay 54 euro Dublin-Limerick return and have to stand the whole way, or you can't go for a pee because people are using the toilet as a seat. Even the pikajuna is more comfortable than the intercity trains in Ireland. There's also the staff who are usually friendly, unlike the morons that work on the irish trains, and trains run on time here, a foreign concept in Ireland. Bus travel is cheaper in Ireland than the trains, you just have to contend with all the traffic jams and holdups due to roadworks. The bus system here is ok, the roads are way better here than in Ireland, and you arrive on time.

There are many things I miss about home, perhaps even a few things I might say that are better in Ireland than here. But value for money re: public transport is DEFINITELY NOT one of them.

kevin.

[Hank W.]

OK, so now I understand. The "same distance" is "same travel time" 140km in Ireland takes the same time as 240 in Finland