State-owned rolling stock company to begin operations in 2026
The rolling stock company Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto Oy will be transferred from VR Group to direct state ownership and ownership steering at the Prime Minister’s Office. The transfer of ownership is a significant step in preparing for the competitive tendering of rail transport services.
Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto Oy will begin its operations in early 2026. The rolling stock currently used in state-funded passenger rail transport will be transferred to the rolling stock company in a business transaction now under preparation.
The rolling stock company was first set up as a subsidiary of VR Group, which provided the company with around EUR 15 million in initial capital. The company will now be transferred to direct state ownership and the ownership steering of the Prime Minister’s Office. With the transfer, Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto Oy will become a special assignment company wholly owned by the State of Finland. From now on, the company will be responsible for the management and leasing of rolling stock and for preparing and carrying out future rolling stock investments.
“The aim is to promote competition in transport services and ensure that all operators have equal access to rolling stock. As a directly state-owned company, Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto Oy will be able to operate neutrally and independently,” says Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications finances passenger rail transport on routes where commercial operations would not be profitable. The current rail transport contract with VR will expire at the end of 2030. The transfer of Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto Oy to direct state ownership will not affect the operations or scope of rail transport, nor will it have an impact on passengers. Once the current contract period is over, rail transport services will be subject to mandatory competitive tendering in line with EU legislation. A new contract period of about ten years is scheduled to start on 1 January 2031.
New rolling stock company will need to make investments to maintain the current level of services
The work to set up the rolling stock company has been ongoing since summer 2024 in line with the Government Programme and decisions made by the Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy. The preparations have been made jointly by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, VR Group and Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto Oy.
In line with a decision made by the Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy in summer 2025, transport services will be maintained at the current level beyond 2030. Maintaining the service level will require investments, the planning and implementation of which will now be the responsibility of Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto Oy. The company will also take part in the preparations for procuring competitively tendered rail transport services.
“Rail transport plays a key role in passenger and goods transport services both as a mode of transport and as a component of security of supply. The state-owned rolling stock company will facilitate competition in the passenger rail transport market. The aim is for future rail transport services to operate on market terms to the greatest extent possible,” says Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne.
Inquiries: Maija Strandberg, Director General, Ownership Steering Department, Prime Minister’s Office, tel. +358 50 407 8423; Minna Pajumaa, Senior Financial Adviser, Ownership Steering Department, Prime Minister’s Office, tel. +358 29 516 0147; Elina Immonen, Director of Unit, Ministry of Transport and Communications, tel. +358 295 342159; Emmi Nykänen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Transport and Communications, tel. +358 295 342 114
The email addresses of the Finnish Government are in the format [email protected]
Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto Oy is a wholly state-owned special assignment company that will now be responsible for the management and leasing of rolling stock used for passenger rail transport financed by the State or, if necessary, another competent authority, as well as for preparing and carrying out future rolling stock investments. The Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Transport and Communications have elected a Board of Directors for the company, with Kai-Petteri Purhonen serving as Chair. The Board of Directors has appointed Joakim Mette to serve as CEO of the company. He took up his duties in August 2025.