Passenger rail service between Kemi, Tornio and Haparanda was discontinued in 1988, leaving the border region without a direct rail link for decades.Watch as the first train from Finland to Sweden in decades crosses the border. Video: Sacha Lagrillière / YleYle News8:45A new rail service linking Oulu in northern Finland with Haparanda in Sweden began on Monday, with the first train departing in the morning.The new service is historic, though not the first train across the border. Passenger rail services between Kemi, Tornio and Haparanda ended in 1988, when the old railbuses were retired."People have been waiting for a rail connection ever since," said Jukka Kujala, the mayor of Tornio.State railways VR will run two return services between Oulu and Haparanda each day. The early-morning train is followed by a second service departing Oulu at 7.50pm and returning late in the evening.VR said timetables would improve next year.A crowd gathered to welcome the train at Haparanda station, even though it was only 6am local time in Sweden. Image: Sacha Lagrillière / YleConnections to Helsinki and StockholmThe return train from Haparanda to Finland offers onward connections all the way to Helsinki.From Haparanda, passengers can continue by Norrtåg commuter trains to destinations such as Boden and Luleå. Boden, in turn, offers connections on SJ, Sweden’s largest rail operator, to destinations further north and south. From Luleå, passengers can travel onwards to Stockholm.Finland is now plugged into the EU rail network.