Train from Helsinki - must book or take it easy?

We have 2 families traveling by an overnight train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi mid-August. Do we have to book sleeper tickets (berths / cabins) in advance, or are there always free places available?

We didn%26#39;t seem to be able to order the tickets via Finnish rail website (VR); it suggests to call a strange-looking phone number instead (0600 number - looks like it%26#39;s for intra-country calls, because in incurs a surcharge).

Do we have to book those seats in advance? There are 4 adults and 2 children. I%26#39;m leaning to take a chance and just show up at the station, as there are 3 overnight express trains to Rovaniemi, and hopefully there%26#39;s enough space. At the same time it may be peak season with everything booked, and we%26#39;d hate for the 2 kids to have a semi-sleepless night...

If you have any experience with summer travel on these overnight trains - could you please share the experience. Many thanks!!

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There probably will be space, but the word probably is the thing here. You should be able to buy (not book) tickets at service.vr.fi/ticket/index.jsp…

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Thanks for the reply. I tried buying tickets on their site last night, and it didn%26#39;t give me the %26quot;buy%26quot; option. Today it seems to work, so I%26#39;ll go ahead and do the purchase. many thanks again.

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They only allow 8 week advance purchase, and the website can be difficult to manouver throgh...

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Mid August is past the peak holiday season here. Finnish schools begin usually just before mid August. Usually there is space in the sleeper trains, but not always. Moreover only one of the night trains to Rovaniemi (P265/P865) has the new more comfortable sleeping cars, the others have old %26quot;blue%26quot; ones: vr.fi/eng/…yo_ja_autojunat.shtml . A journey in the new sleeping cars costs more than in the old %26quot;blue%26quot; sleeping cars: vr.fi/eng/…yojunat_makuupaikat.shtml .

You can call to the VR%26#39;s Call Center also from abroad by dialling +358 9 2319 2902 (see vr.fi/eng/…index.shtml ). You should be also able buy the tickets online with a credit card.

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And for you and all others: the VR online shop sells tickets only 06:00 - 23:30 Finnish time (GMT+2h).

But I don%26#39;t find it at all difficult to operate. If you%26#39;ve used any other online shops it should work out fine.

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Thanks for all the information... BTW, It did occur to me that the reason I didn%26#39;t see an option to buy was due to late hour, but it seemed too unusual to accept without a question...

In any case, all%26#39;s very helpful. And the site is quite navigable - although, as with many other, one has to make a few %26quot;discoveries%26quot; about how the trains operate and tariffed....

Cheers!