VR Group to transfer rolling stock used in passenger rail services funded by the government to Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto

VR-Group Plc and Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto Oy announced today that they have signed an asset purchase agreement concerning the rolling stock used in passenger rail services funded by the government. The rolling stock will be transferred to Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto's ownership from the beginning of March.

In the first phase of the deal, Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto will assume ownership of commuter traffic trains, railbuses, and night and car-carrier trains that are currently in service and new ones that are scheduled to enter service. The new night and car-carrier trains that VR has ordered will be transferred to Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto at a later date. Decisions on the transfer of locomotives needed in public contract traffic will be made later. The goal is that the rolling stock company will own all of the necessary rolling stock by the time the new, competitively tendered contract enters into force.
The total value of the purchase is approximately EUR 250 million. The deal is intended to be financially neutral for VR. As VR's owner, the Prime Minister's Office will, therefore, make a decision in 2026 on a refund of capital to ensure financial neutrality. 

In connection with the asset purchase, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency has entered into an agreement on leasing the rolling stock from Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto, and all three parties have entered into an agreement on the maintenance of and right to use the rolling stock. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency and VR also updated their current public service contract to reflect the new tripartite model. The role of competent authority in government-operated rail transport services was transferred to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency on 1 January 2026. Moving forward, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency will be responsible for government procurements of passenger rail services and for the upcoming tendering process for the public service contract. 

“Transferring the ownership of rolling stock to a neutral company that does not operate rail traffic itself is a major step in Finland’s preparations for the competitive tendering of passenger rail services funded by the government. The new contract period will begin in 2031. The rolling stock owned by Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto will ensure that future operators of public contract traffic will have access to rolling stock on equal terms,” said Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand. 

These ownership arrangements will have no effect on the operation, scope or passengers of public contract traffic. The current public contract operated by VR will remain in force until the end of 2030.

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 and Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto Oy. 

“In the future, every operator will have access to rolling stock for use in public contract traffic. This will make it possible for new operators to enter the Finnish market and promote competition. A competitive rail traffic market will benefit Finland and passengers,” said 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. +358 295 160 147
Elina Immonen, Director of Unit, Ministry of Transport and Communications, tel. +358 295 342 159
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 Ministry of Transport and Communications finances passenger rail transport on routes where commercial operations would not be profitable. The current contract with VR Group is due to expire at the end of 2030. 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.