Getting around Kotka is easy by train, bus or car. Trippy’s guide shows you how to buy tickets, and includes a travel map.
Long distance public transport in Finland is modern, clean and comfortable, with reclining seats and bathrooms. Free power and WiFi are standard.
The tree-lined Sculpture Promenade runs through the centre of Kotka.
Trains
With its extensive network, Finland’s trains offer a comfortable ride to the country’s bustling cities and charming villages. Traveling by train is also environmentally friendly and easy on your wallet!
Commuter trains are identified by their letter designations and are operated by VR. A single ticket is valid for a trip as long as you don’t change trains or buy it at the last minute. If you use the commuter trains frequently, you can get a multi-ticket and save money.
The Kouvola-Kouvola-Hamina track is the first in Finland to be equipped with ETCS Level 2, and it will serve as a test for a nationwide update to this new signalling system. The work is scheduled to start in summer 2021 and end in 2023.
The Finnish Transport Agency offers a point-to-point long-distance journey planner that allows you to search for flights, bus and rail connections, and even walking routes. Simply enter your starting location and destination and select a departure or arrival time.
Stations
Finland has a wide network of railway lines with a broad 1,524 mm (5 ft) track gauge. Its state-owned VR operates passenger train services on 7,225 km (4,489 mi) of tracks.
A modern station serving Kotka Port opened in 1998, replacing a seasonal halt called Satamakatu (southern terminus of the Kotka–Helsinki railway). The current station is located less than 500 metres (550 yd) away from the former site.
The centrally-located Pasaati shopping centre is accessible on foot from the railway station. Buses run regularly during the day and night to other parts of Kotka. Taxis can also be found at the station.
Local bus services within cities and towns are often tightly regulated, with councils operating their own bus companies in competition with private operators. In contrast, regional bus lines are put out to tender, though old transit companies are often protected by the provincial government. The bus travel operator Oy Reissu Ruoti offers direct connections between Helsinki and Kotka (Station). Travel time is around 2h 16m.
Timetables
Printed system timetables are no longer published in Finland but working timetable information is available online. The Julia website links to PDFs of suburban routes from a drop-down list and to station departure lists from a similar menu.
Most of the country’s train services are operated by state-owned VR. There is also one private railway company, which owns the Karhula-Sunila line with freight traffic only.
Commuter rail is the main way most people get around Helsinki, and the D train provides an hourly service between Hameenlinna and Helsinki during weekdays, serving several stations along the route. The main line to Turku is currently closed between Kupittaa and Turku for engineering work, with trains terminating at platform 7 in the yard. The main railway through Aland, with its 6,500 islands, is a scenic highlight for travellers to the north. Eckero Line and Tallink & Silja compete on the Helsinki-Tallinn and Helsinki-Turku routes, with both operating multiple crossings each day. Occasional steam excursions over other VR lines are operated in summer by preservation societies.
Fares
The fares for the trains on the VR commuter rail system vary considerably, with one exception: the main Helsinki-Tampere service runs every two hours throughout the week. This is a fast, simple train with only eight stops.
A short branch line from a triangular junction west of Lahti to a simple platform north of the main line has been used by trains to special events at the nearby sports arena (Lahti Urheilukeskus). This hasn’t happened recently, but special trains may run to this venue for significant events.
Admire the ornate Empire Neo-classical buildings of Senate Square, explore Sibelius Park, and visit Temppeliaukio Rock Church. Or, enjoy a culinary highlight during a home-hosted dinner with locals as part of an Exclusive Discovery Series trip. The dazzling 6,500-island archipelago that protects the capital is another scenic highlight. Discover the beauty of this coastal gem on a cruise from Helsinki.
