Train drivers go on strike from Monday evening

The Finnish Locomotive Drivers’ Union (Veturimiestenliitto) on Thursday announced a countrywide railway strike for 30 hours from Monday evening.

The strike was called in protest against the government’s decision to open the railway transport sector to competition.

The government on Wednesday announced its decision to open passenger railway transport to competition from the 2020s so that the national railway operator VR will no longer have exclusive right to the provision of railway transport services in the Finnish railway network.

The Locomotive Drivers’ Union in a statement said they cannot accept the way the government has decided to go for open bid in the railway transport sector.

VR in a press release said all passenger and freight train services will be suspended across the country due to the strike scheduled to begin from 6.00 pm on Monday and continue till Tuesday midnight.

The VR authorities also urged the passengers who have already booked tickets in advance for the strike period to either cancel or change the tickets.

The movement of local HSL commuter trains in the capital will also come under the purview of the strike.