Lux Express to increase number of bus trips between St. Petersburg, Helsinki to 10 by Jan 3

ST. PETERSBURG. Dec 13 (Interfax) - Bus operator Lux Express will introduce six daily services connecting Russia's St. Petersburg and Finland's Helsinki for the period between December 14 to January 1, the company said

Starting on January 2, the bus company says it will expand the number of daily bus services to eight, and from January 3 to 10.

As reported previously, Lux Express announced on Tuesday, December 12, its plans to start gradually resuming bus services connecting Russia and Finland from December 13. The first bus trip from Helsinki to St. Petersburg after the resumption of services is due to depart from the Finnish capital at 9:30 p.m., and the first bus from St. Petersburg to Helsinki will leave at 11:30 p.m. on December 13.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said earlier that two border crossings at the Russian border, Vaalimaa and Niirala, would reopen on December 14.

Earlier in November 2023, Finland shut down all eight border crossing points between the two countries for passengers, citing a mass influx of migrants from third countries observed at its border with Russia, which Helsinki said had been organized by the Russian side.

Lux Express operates in six countries, servicing more than 20 bus routes. In particular, the company offers bus trips from St. Petersburg to Helsinki, the Latvian capital Riga and Estonia's Tallinn.