All Finland articles – Page 2
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NewsConverting Finland’s rail network to standard gauge is not financially viable, study finds
FINLAND: A study has concluded that converting the 1 524 mm broad gauge national railway network to the European standard of 1 435 mm would not be financially viable. Recognising that regauging would facilitate international passenger and freight traffic and could simplify rolling stock procurement, the ...
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In depthNurminen sees opportunities for growth following acquisition of Operail Finland
FINLAND: Nurminen Logistics says its purchase of Estonian national freight operator Operail’s Finnish business has attracted great interest from its customers in Finland, central Europe and China. Nurminen announced the completion of the transaction on February 14, saying it was now a full-service rail freight operator ...
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NewsFinnish dry port opens
FINLAND: The Kouvola Rail & Road Terminal has been completed, roughly equidistant from the Russian border and the port of Helsinki and near to the ports of Hamina and Kotka. The terminal has been developed by the city of Kouvola, which says it is Finland’s first ...
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NewsTimber wagon shunter delivered
FINLAND: Forestry company Metsä Group has taken delivery of the first of two Windhoff Bahn & Anlagentechnik TeleTrac RW100EM-DT shunting machines for moving timber wagons at its Kemi pulp and paper mill. The fully electric shunters have two cable-connected 50 tonne sections ...
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NewsOperail agrees sale of Finnish rail freight business
FINLAND: Nurminen Logistics has signed an agreement to purchase the Finnish activities of Operail, the Estonian state freight operator which is divesting its non-core activities. Subject to Finnish regulatory approval of €27·7m sale and purchase agreement announced on January 13, the entire share capital of Operail ...
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NewsVR orders more night train rolling stock
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.
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Metro Report InternationalMetro extension opens in Espoo
FINLAND: A 7 km extension of the Helsinki metro network west from Matinkylä to Kivenlahti within the neighbouring city of Espoo opened on December 3. Espoo Mayor Jukka Mäkelä and Helsinki Mayor Juhana Vartiainen arrived at the opening ceremony at Espoonlahti station via the new extension. ...
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Metro Report InternationalSpeeding up tunnel cleaning on the Helsinki metro
FINLAND: A wall-washing wagon has been produced which can cover 2 km of Helsinki metro tunnel during a single night shift. The metro’s tunnels, including the walls, ceilings, rails, equipment housings, fire doors and escape routes, are washed once a year. The process usually takes around ...
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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 ...