VR will close all of its passenger stations in the next few years.
VR announced last week that it would abandon 25 passenger stations over the next few years.
Station properties are mainly offered to cities and municipalities.
Train stations are traditionally in good locations in the centers of cities or municipalities, and the population center is built around the station.
Some railway stations are well known, such as the Helsinki Central Railway Station, designed by Eliel Saarinen, whose façade’s carved stone men have played a major role in the marketing of VR.
Read more: VR Station sells – See which stations are on the map
Some of the station buildings, including Järvenpää, are the original stations of Finland’s first railway route, the Helsinki–Hämeenlinna line completed in 1862.
Among the sellers is the Kajaani station building, which is often called the most beautiful station building in Finland.
On the other hand, the list of sold stations also includes station buildings in smaller towns that may not be as well known.
– For example, Tusula Jokela is a small stop where even a cafe owner cannot manage. It is hard to imagine that anyone would be interested in a building where you cannot do business and which is not suitable for residential use, Mikko Simpenen, the municipal facility services manager, told STT.
Järvenpää station had already been completed in 1858 as one of the first station buildings on the Helsinki–Hämeenlinna line. In 1999, the station building was moved approximately 25 meters away from the track line in connection with track construction and improvement works. Photo: Emmy Korhonen / Lehtikuva
Kotka’s red-brick station building was completed in 1925. The distance of Kotka port is less than one kilometer. Photo: Zache / Wikipedia
Kolar station is the northernmost railway station in Finland in use. A striking feature of the new station building is the hut-like structure. Photo: Irene Stachon / Lehtkuwa
Kerava station, designed by Knut Nylander, was completed in 1878. Photo: Sari Gustafsson / Lehtikuva
Kajaani Station is often called the most beautiful station building in Finland. The Art Nouveau building was completed in 1905. Photo: Vesa Moilainen / Lehtikuva
Joensuu Station represents Neo-Renaissance, and the construction of the station was completed in 1894. Ema is one of the most valuable historical and historical preservation sites of the Finnish Railways. Photo: Matti Bjorkman / Lehtikuva
Hyvinka station is one of the original stations on the Helsinki–Hämeenlinna line, which was completed in 1862, and is still in its original use. The Finnish Museum Agency has defined it as a nationally important built cultural environment. Photo: Vesa Moilainen / Lehtikuva
The present red brick station building of Hameenlinna was completed in 1921. The station is surrounded by a linden park. Photo: Antti Aimo-Koivisto / Lehtikuva
Helsinki Central Station is one of the most famous buildings in Finland. Photo: Teemu Salonen / Lehtikuva
The picture of the old wooden station in Toijala dates back to 1956. The station has already been demolished. Photo: Matty Tyree / Wikipedia
The current station at Kauvola, a travel centre, was inaugurated in 1960. When it was completed, it was the largest in Finland, next only to Helsinki’s main railway station. The first station at Kauvola was built in 1875. Photo: Irene Stachon / Lehtikuva
The current station at Turku Kupitta was completed in late 1994. However, the former station, a valuable wooden building, has not been demolished but has been used inter alia as a restaurant. Photo: Jussi Nukari / Lehtikuva
Turku’s current station building was completed in 1940. The exterior cladding of the station was replaced in the late 1970s, and the museum agency has defined the railway station and its surrounding area as a nationally important built cultural environment of Finland. Photo: Martti Kanulainen / Lehtikuva
Tampere Railway Station is located in the center of Tampere. The present station was completed in 1936. The Finnish Museum Agency has classified the station area as a nationally important conservation site. Photo: Emmy Korhonen / Lehtikuva
Silinjärvi station was opened in 1902 in connection with the railway section between Kuopio and Isalmi. Photo: Ritva Siltalahti / Lehtikuva
The current station building in Riihimaki, designed by Thure Hellström, is of the funk style and was completed in 1935 on the site of the former. Photo: Pekka Sakki / Lehtikuva
Lahti Railway Station is built of dark colored brick, and was completed in 1935. The building is rectangular in plan and has two floors. Photo: Heikki Soukoma / Lehtikuva
The current Pyksamäki station building was completed in 1981. The Savo Railway Museum is housed in the old wooden station building. Photo: Pete Aarey-Ahtio / IS
Parkano Station was opened to passenger and freight traffic in 1971. The station is located approximately six kilometers from the center of Parkano. Photo: Esco Sala HS
The building of Oualten station is a beautiful wooden house. The station was opened to traffic as early as 1886, when the railway to Oulu was completed. Photo: Jarmo Tyska / Pyhajokisethu
In 2007 a travel center was completed next to the current station in Mikkeli and bus traffic moved to the station. Photo: Joonas Salo
The Kuopio station building was completed in 1934, and was designed by Jarl Ungern and Thure Hellström. Photo: Akseli Muraja
