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 Finnish railroading was for long almost isolated from the rest of the West European networks. Because of the isolation, during the latest decades operations on the national network were mainly a monopoly of the state owned operator VR-Yhtyma (before Valtionrautatiet). During the EU membership period the railroads too have started to open for other operators and owners as well. But even with several plans the old structures change slowly.  National
operators Helsinki
Metropolitan area operators Other:
Museums and Amusement parks Maintenance of the Way National Operators Rolling stock operators within Finnish territory. DB Schenker It is probably just a matter of time before the mighty Deutscheh Bahns subsidiary DB Schenker will start its own operation on the Finnish networks. DB itself has numerous electric ex. eastern surplus locomotives that could easily be altered for freight movements in Finland. DB Schenker is already the largest trucking company in Finland so there would be enough intermodal traffic of its own to get started. Karelia Trains A joint venture startup of the Finnish VR-Yhtyma (50%) and RzD (50%), the Russian Railways. Karelia Trains has ordered 4 seven car Pendolino sets from Alstom to connect Helsinki Finland and St Petersburg Russia more efficiently. These unit will be described in detail in the future, once the details are released. Karhula-Sunila Railway A short line in Kotka-Karhula area serving the Sunila Pulp Factory. This operator is currently facing the worst crises as the only pulp plant it is supplying was shut down in 2010 by the owner StoraEnso. Proxion Train Oy A start up to own rolling stock and operate freight movements. Was supposed to start operations in 2010, but it will be likely this will take more time due to successfull VR-Yhtyma counter attack. RzD, the Russian railways If the RzD (the Russian Railways) was a company inside the European Union, it would probably be the strong number two operator of Finland. Currently it is an ally to the VR-Yhtyma, running the trains just 10 kilometers or so into Finland where they are handed over to VR. RzD passenger cars also visit Helsinki daily from St Petersburg and Moscow (no need for gauge change for 4 mm gauge difference on the networks). /// Stora Enso The forest industry giant Stora Enso was to acquire a fleet of several hundred freight cars of it's own. The company expressed it's dissatisfaction towards VR-Yhtyma not been able to deliver enough cars for the clients use. The situation is said to have been similar for years. However, with the current grave economical situation nothing will probably happen in this sector. See also the news section for Stora Enso. Teollisuuden Raideliikenne Oy TR Group A new rolling stock operator, which has planned to start its operations several time, next deadline is in 2010. More on "TR Group" in the future. United Paper Mills UPM operated for years its local swithing locomotive in Lappeeranta. This operation was ceased and moved over to VR-Yhtyma at the end of the year 2009 probably due to practical and economical reasons. UPM also operates a realtively large fleet of pulpwood cars built in Russia, registered in Estonia and financed by Nordea. VR-Yhtyma The Traditional large operator with adequate connections within the country and abroad. At the end of the year 2009, VR will still has a practical monopoly on all rail traffic. VR-Yhtyma consists of the railroad rolling stock owner and operating company for passenger and freight traffic, railroad construction company, and several smaller companies for different functions. The company operates a fleet of several hundred electric and diesel locomotives and EMU's, 18 Pendolino units, and about dozen DMU's. To serve it's customers VR-Yhtyma has probably tens of thousands of freight cars and several hundred passenger cars. More on the rolling stock in the near future. VR-Yhtyma Info Page
VR-Yhtyma Roster Pictures
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Helsinki Metropolitan area operators Rolling stock operators within Helsinki Metropolitan area. HKL
- the City of Helsinki The city of Helsinki ownes and operates the Metro and several tramlines through it's organization HKL. Helsinki Metro is one branching line with about 20 stations. The operations started in 1982. Every year the Metro seems to carry more and more passengers who have found it to be very punctual and precise in its operations. The city of Espoo, west of Helsinki, has decided to extend the line to it's area, and the construction will be started in 2009. The tram network in Helsinki is ever extending, just like in most of the Western Europe. The HKL operates daily around 150 trams on it's surprisingly narrow 1 meter gauge network. About 40 new trams will be ordered shortly and 6 used "retro trams" from Germany have also been added to the fleet. Many older trams are currently being fitted with a middle lower section as well to meet the ever increasing demand for an easy access. There is also one "Joker" bus line, and another similar line in the planning stage. The Joker line is currently operated with large and frequent buses, but the intent is to switch to trams later. Hopefully the trams will be of broader gauge to allow interconnections with the rail networks and metro. The broader gauge would also allow for a lot more comfortable space for passengers. The current one meter gauge trams are very cramped inside. Pääkaupunkiseudun
Junakalusto Oy The new company was established in 2004 to own and lease commuter trains operated in the Helsinki Metropolitan area under the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council (YTV/HMAC). HMAC has for long been responsible for the mass transportation to outside Helsinki but not within the city itself for years. Recently there was an agreement to include the city of Helsinki and additional surrounding cities under its authority forming the HSL (Helsinki Area Traffic). The owners of the train owner company are the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and tiny Kauniainen plus the national rail operator VR-Yhtyma thus forming a national coalition. So far the company has ordered 32 FLIRT EMU's from Stadler Bussnang AG for 189 million ?. The trains are 4 car units for around 250 passengers. Delivery is starting from the years 2009/2010. The production units arrived at the end of year 2008 as the picture taken then shows. The units will replace some of the older worn out Sm1 EMU's owned by VR-Yhtyma. The trains will externally be quite identical to the Swiss SBB/CFF FLIRT EMU in Germany below. Notice the slight differences in the width and windows and door pattern of the EMUs.  
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Other Operators Including heritage stock operators, amusement parks, quarries, etc. Humppila-Jokioinen Museum Railway A narrow gauge steam/diesel museum railway in the South Western Finland. The track is operated on weekends during the summer. A rare example on how a working railroad is transferred to a live museum operated by volunteers. Höyryraide Oy "Steamrail" Höyryraide - the Steamrail arranges trips on PMR's line from Porvoo to Kerava. Their aim since 1994 is to renovate, keep and run historic trains. Linnanmaki Amusement park in Helsinki Linnanmaki has the oldest roller coaster in the Nordic Countries. Kept in a perfect working condition, the wooden structure offers a thrilling ride of a few minutes. The wooden roller coaster trains have a brake man in each train. Linnanmaki park also has several newer roller coasters, as well as the monorail and the miniature track. Porvoon Museorautatie ry - Borgå Museijärnväg rf This is a nostalgic Finnish broadgauge line from Kerava (near Helsinki) to Porvoo east of Helsinki. Traffic on this privately owned line started already in 1874 with mixed trains. After a few financial catastrophes, pauses in traffic, new owners etc. the line was finally sold to VR (the Finnish State Railways) in 1917. VR discontinued the passenger traffic in 1981 as unprofitable only a few months after the new highway from Helsinki to Porvoo opened. Freight trains ran on the route until 1990. Porvoon Museorautatie ry - Borgå Museijärnväg rf has arranged trips on the line since 1991. The trains run on saturdays or separately chartered. These "normal" trips are made with PMR's own Dm7 "lättähattu" DMUs in trains of 3-6 units. PMR is a group of enthusiasts who themselves keep the track in good condition. Due to new regulations on the Finnish network the trains can go only as fas as Kerava instead of the earlier Helsinki Central Railway Station. Puuhamaa Amusement Park in Tervakoski Puuhamaa operates old mining rail tractor to transport tourists. Sarkanniemi Amusement Park in Tampere Sarkanniemi is probably the biggest amusement park in Finland. It too has several roller coasters including the thrilling roller coaster Tornado! To the top of the page
MOV Operators Will be added later. There are a number of companies working on the rail with some smaller excavators and some smaller locomotives. To the top of the page
Finnish reference main page
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Created for 4rail.net by John McKey and Andreas Ehnberg. Pictures by Hannu Luukannel, Hannu Peltola, Ilkka Siissalo, Sanna Siissalo, Stanislav Voronin and John McKey.  See also these pages!  Finnish Railroads Main Page, a great place to start browsing this section.  Finnish railroad organizations and railroad operators have their own pages, as well as the largest operator VR-Yhtyma and a newcomer to the field Junakalusto.  While much of the passenger traffic concentrates around the capital Helsinki, you might be interested in the roster pictures of VR-Yhtyma, Junakalusto and the city of Helsinki operator HKL. HKL operates the metro, buses and narrow gauge trams.   You might also like to see the Finnish Rolling Stock Classes Page or the Rolling Stock Heritage Classes Page!   The Finnish Infrastructure Page gives you details on the railroad projects of past, present and the future. Finnish Railroad History Page describes the beginnings of Finnish railroading.  Finnish location is quite challenging for the railroading, the European Union Railroading Page and the Rail Baltica Page shed light to this subject.  Russians in Finland Page brings you some of the exotic Russian models, many still dating back to the Soviet period.  Last but not least, Take a virtual tour with a Finnish heritage locomotive Vr1 / "Chicken". This story was brought to 4rail.net by Hannu Peltola.  Lets hunt some Wolfpacks! This is the special story page devoted to VR-Yhtyma Sr1 Wolves. |
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