Loading a car onto the train
We will help you load and unload your car during a CarTrain journey.
Save an entire day of your trip onboard CarTrain
You arrive in a flash when you load your car onto the train and sleep overnight in the sleeping compartment. Loading a car or a motorcycle onto the train is easier than you think!
Check where your closest car-carrier station is. Check the maps, parking spaces and places for handing over the keys from station-specific information.
Check the car-carrier stations
There’s no need to be nervous about the loading
As a rule, drivers load and unload their cars onto the train by themselves. In some cases, we can load the car for you.
Practical tips for car-carrier passengers
A car-carrier takes you and your car or motorcycle from one end of Finland to the other. What should you consider before the trip and at the car-carrier stations? Read our tips for a successful and comfortable journey!
Remember the following when loading your car onto the train
Maximum dimensions of the vehicle
- Overall width max. 2 m 20 cm.
- Width measured from the outer edge of one tyre to the outer edge of the other, max. 2 m.
- Length max. 5 m, 10 m or 15 m (incl. fixed items, such as towing hooks).
- The maximum height depends on the chosen train. However, the absolute maximum is 2 m 60 cm.
- Weight: Fully covered car-carrier wagon (Gd car-carrier wagon) not more than 3,000 kg and the axle or axle-group weight not more than 2,000 kg. Partly covered car-carrier wagon (Gfot car-carrierwagon) not more than 2,500 kg and the axle or axle-group weight not more than 1,400 kg.
- You can usually check the car weight from the car’s registration document.
- The length and height of the vehicle space cannot be changed. If this information changes, cancel the vehicle space and book a new one with the correct dimensions through our customer service 0600 41 900 (2 € / answered call + lnc/mcc).
Other considerations about the vehicle size
- When reporting the vehicle size, remember to take fixed items, such as a ski box and towing hook, into consideration.
- Lowered cars and cars with a trailer and hem, front and boot spoilers, special exhaust piping and other similar accessories are always transported under the customer’s own responsibility. Such vehicles must always be loaded by the customer.
- If you want to transport a van or another non-standard motor vehicle or you are otherwise not sure whether your vehicle can be transported, please contact our customer service at 0600 41 900 (2 € / answered call + lnc/mcc).
It’s easy to unload the car from the train and instructions are quite similar to the loading instructions:
- Always unload your car without your travelling companions – they can wait in the station waiting room.
- When travelling from the North to Helsinki, car-carrier wagons are disconnected from the train before arriving in Pasila and transferred to the unloading platform. Remember to exit the train in Pasila!
- If you have booked a car loading service when purchasing the car train ticket, we will unload your car for you. Information on where to hand over the keys can be found on the station’s website.
There’s no need to be nervous about the loading
This is how you load your car by yourself
- As a rule, you will always load and unload your own car by yourself.
- Especially non-standard (e.g. lowered) vehicles and cars with trailers must always be loaded and unloaded by the driver.
- We want to make sure that you are safe – please load and unload your car when you are alone. Meanwhile, your travel companion can have a cup of coffee at the station.
- Reserve enough time for loading the car. You can find the exact load time on your ticket.
- Remember to pack a separate overnight bag to take with you whatever you may need in the sleeping compartment. The rest of the baggage you can leave in the car.
- Once you have loaded your car, engage the car’s parking brake, turn off the air-conditioning/heating and lock the car.
- For safety reasons, it is necessary to leave the car-carrier wagon after loading the vehicle.
- We recommend turning the car alarm off for the duration of the train journey. The vibration and movement of the train can easily set the alarm off.
- There’s no need to be nervous about the loading or unloading – our employees will help you throughout all the stages of it.
When we will load your car for you
- If you cannot load or unload your car yourself, we will load it for you. Please note that you cannot change the car loader afterward.
- You might be unable to load or unload your car yourself when you are, for example, travelling alone with kids or if you are disabled or have mobility impairments.
- Always remember to choose the car loading service already when purchasing the ticket to your car. The service is free of charge.
- Park your car for loading in a designated parking space at the departure date.
- You can find the exact load time on your ticket.
- Bring your car to the loading site and hand over the keys to VR staff at least 30 minutes before loading begins.
- Deliver the keys to the hand-over location well in advance.
- Print out your ticket and attach it to the keys. You can also write the ticket information on a paper (name, phone number, departure date, train, departure station, destination station, car make and model, and registration number).
- Parking spaces and places for handing over the keys are station-specific and you can find them on the station’s website.
Timetables for night trains and car-carrier trains
We have published our new timetables, and you can now buy night train tickets until 26 Oct 2024.
View timetablesCar-carrier stations
Check the maps, parking spaces and places for handing over the keys from station-specific information.
Motorcycles are always loaded by their rider
This is how you load a motorcycle onto the train
- You will always load and unload your own motorcycle by yourself.
- The motorcycle is fastened onto the car carrier wagon with straps. Please see the video below for instructions.
- We want to make sure that you are safe – please load and unload your motorcycle alone. Meanwhile, your travel companion can have a cup of coffee at the station.
- Reserve enough time for loading the bike. You can find the exact load time on your ticket.
- There’s no need to be nervous about the loading or unloading – our employees will help you throughout all the stages of it.