VR drivers’ strike to freeze all commuter trains on Friday

All commuter train services will remain suspended on Friday as the drivers of the national railway operator VR have decided to go on a strike, said the Helsinki Regional Transport Authority (Helsingin seudun liikenne – HSL) on Thursday afternoon.

According to the Helsinki and Riihimäki train drivers, they have decided to go on the strike to protest against the VR's personnel policy. They said the VR has breached the existing collective agreement by forcing drivers to work in their free time and implementing the division of work in a discriminatory manner.

The VR’s train drivers’ protest will halt commuter train services on Friday, said the HSL in a press release, adding that the drivers will not come to work on Friday. Services are expected to resume on Saturday morning at about 5.00 am.

“The HSL will not provide replacement services. People can search for alternative routes using the Journey Planner, ticking off the train option in the planner’s setting.

However, additional services will be provided on some routes, where possible.

Earlier, on 18 and 19 March, the Railway Union Association (Rautatiealan Unioni Ry-RAU) went on a two-day strike, protesting against breach of contract by the VR and changes brought to work conditions that had been agreed on.