FINLAND: National operator VR has selected Škoda Transtech to supply nine sleeping cars and eight car-carrying vans to enter service from the end of 2025.
The €50m contract would included spare parts, tools, staff training and documentation. There would be options for VR to order up to 30 more sleeping cars and 30 car-carriers. VR’s current night train fleet consists of 80 sleeper cars and 33 car-carrying vans.
Škoda Transtech was named preferred bidder on December 21, with formal contract award subject to a 14-day standstill period. VR confirmed the order on January 18.
The Ministry of Transport & Communications and VR signed a directly-awarded nine-year public service obligation contract in January 2022 covering the operation of loss-making passenger services, including overnight trains to and from the north.
This agreement provides for investment of more than €280m in new overnight and commuter rolling stock, which the government would make available to any future winner of the tendered operating contracts.
- VR Group’s Senior Vice-President for Strategy & Corporate Development Ilkka Heiskanen discussed plans to grow the passenger and freight business in the October 2021 issue of Railway Gazette International magazine, which subscribers can read online.
