Finnish railway news – Page 3
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NewsCommuter trains to combine Finnish design with Swiss engineering
FINLAND: National operator VR has awarded Stadler a €250m contract to supply 20 electric multiple-units for entry into service on commuter routes from spring 2026, with options for 50 more and full maintenance. VR’s three priorities when tendering the contract were energy efficiency, a proven track ...
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In depthLight rail: Ridership bounces back as Nordic cities embrace the tram
The Covid-19 pandemic caused some cities across Scandinavia to question future investment in light rail, but a strong ridership recovery means the case for projects remains strong across much of the region.
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NewsVR selects preferred bidder for EMU order
FINLAND: National operator VR has selected Stadler Bussnang as preferred bidder to supply 20 electric multiple-units. The contract worth around €250m would include the supply of spare parts, tools, training and documentation, along with options to purchase up to 50 additional EMUs and maintenance services. Stadler ...
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NewsFenniarail orders electric locomotive to support growth
FINLAND: Private freight operator Fenniarail has announced a firm order for Siemens Mobility to supply one Vectron electric locomotive by the end of October 2023, with an option for a further four. The operator is to invest in a maintenance depot in the Kouvola region, and ...
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NewsHiab launches rail crane range
FINLAND: Cargotec company Hiab has launched a series of rail-specific loader cranes with its SPACEevo control system, building on its products for the road market. The Hiab iX 122 RAIL is to be launched at the IAA show in Hannover on September 20-25. The range is ...
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NewsSawn timber wagon arrives in Finland
FINLAND: Fenninarail has taken delivery of the first of a batch of Habins wagons ordered for sawn timber traffic, following initial testing in Estonia. Managing Director of the open access freight operator Juha Hakavuori said there is currently great demand for the ...
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NewsFinland responds to European Commission regauging proposal
FINLAND: Minister of Transport & Communications Timo Harakka has described as ‘unreasonable’ the European Commission’s proposal to require the use of 1 435 mm gauge throughout the TEN-T rail network, arguing that Finland should be regarded as a special case. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ...
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NewsEstonian locomotive approved for operation in Finland
FINLAND: A C30-MF diesel locomotive produced at Operail’s Tapa workshop in Estonia has been approved for use on the Finnish network. It is to be used for shunting at the port of Kotka, instead of Operail’s Wabtec/Tülomsaş PowerHaul main line freight locomotives. Transport agency Traficom granted ...
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Metro Report InternationalHelsinki smart ticketing contract
FINLAND: Helsinki regional transport authority HSL has awarded Conduent Transportation a contract to supply fare collection equipment for buses, trams, trains, metros and ferries. There were 238 million passenger boardings on these services in 2021. The first phase of the project is scheduled to begin in ...
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NewsFreight company Operail facing ‘complicated circumstances’
ESTONIA: National rail freight operator Operail says 2022 has brought ‘complicated circumstances’, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine impacting on its operations. The management board is taking steps to find replacements for sanctioned traffic and to direct its wagons on lease away from high-risk regions. ‘Despite ...
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NewsDigital track monitoring on test in Finland
FINLAND: VR Group’s rolling stock maintenance company VR FleetCare is testing technology it has developed for the digital monitoring of the condition of track equipment including track circuits. A pilot project with national infrastructure manager Väylävirasto was launched last year and has recorded more than a ...
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NewsAutonomous shunting locomotive on test
FINLAND: A shunting locomotive retrofitted for unattended operation to Grade of Automation 4 is being tested at the Voikkaa Business Area as part of a project to develop an autonomous shunter for use at freight terminals, industrial sites and ports. Steelwheel has modified the Otso 4 ...
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Metro Report InternationalTampere orders more trams
FINLAND: Škoda Group has been awarded a contract to supply a further five ForCity Smart Artic X34 trams to Tampere. The €34m firm order announced on May 25 has been placed using an option on the original contract signed in 2017. This covered the supply of ...
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NewsFinland’s VR begins terminating Russian rail freight contracts
EUROPE: Finland’s national train operator VR Group has begun the process of terminating its Russian cross-border freight contracts, with traffic expected to cease completely by the end of the year at the latest, and it is also looking to sell or liquidate its Russian freight joint ...
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News‘Controlled’ end to Finland – Russia rail freight traffic
FINLAND: National operator VR Group is to discontinue rail freight traffic with Russia ‘in a controlled manner’, the railway’s board decided on April 6. VR said it aimed to run down traffic as quickly as possible, although it expected that the process would take several months. ...
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NewsVR Group President & CEO removed
FINLAND: The board of state rail operator VR Group dismissed Lauri Sipponen as President & Chief Executive on April 4, just seven months into the job. Director of Passenger Operations Topi Simola has taken temporary charge while VR Group looks for a new CEO. No reason ...
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NewsFinland’s VR buys Arriva’s Swedish rail and bus business
SWEDEN: Finland’s national railway VR Group is to acquire Deutsche Bahn’s Swedish train and bus operating business Arriva Sverige, with the aim of expanding in the urban transport sector and becoming a significant operator in the larger Swedish market. Arriva Sverige is Sweden’s third largest train ...
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NewsFinnish diesel locomotive delivered
FINLAND: The first of 60 Class Dr19 diesel locomotives ordered by national railway VR for shunting, freight and local passenger operations has arrived in Tampere for testing.
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NewsTendering ahead as Finnish operating contract signed
FINLAND: The Ministry of Transport & Communications and national operator VR have signed a directly-awarded public service obligation contract for the operation of loss-making passenger services over the next nine years, with provision for the procurement of new rolling stock and greater regional involvement in funding ...
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NewsFinland – Sweden rail link to be electrified
FINLAND: Funding has been agreed for the electrification of the 24 km line from the junction at Laurila near Kemi to Tornio and across the border to Haparanda in Sweden.