Strike paralyses all domestic trains

Domestic railway communication remained completely paralysed from 6:00pm Monday as the Finnish Locomotive Drivers’ Union (Veturimiestenliitto) went on a 30-hour strike.

The strike was called on August 10 in protest against the government’s decision to open the railway transport sector to competition.

The government on August 9 announced its decision to open the passenger railway transport sector to competition from the 2020s so that the national railway operator VR will no longer have the exclusive right to provide railway transport services in the Finnish railway network.

All kind of commuter train services, excepting the Allegro train service between Helsinki and Saint Petersburg and the Tolstoi trains running between Helsinki and Moscow, remained suspended all over the country due to the strike.

The strike forced most commuters to travel by bus, creating an extra pressure on bus services, prompting the authorities to add extra buses to their fleet.

People were seen to remain standing at bus stands for long time in the capital with many intercity passengers, particularly tourists, facing serious problems due to the strike.

The crowded Helsinki Railway Station experienced a different scenario as it was almost vacant since Monday evening.

Unaware of the strike, some passengers came to the station but the VR employees on duty explained the situation and helped them find alternative ways of travelling.

The train drivers are scheduled to return to work on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, and the train services are expected to become normal by Wednesday morning.

VR earlier said all passenger and freight train services will be suspended across the country during the strike hours.

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.