VR buys 17 coaches worth €50m from Škoda Transtech

National railway operator VR is procuring nine sleeper coaches and eight car-carrier coaches from Škoda Transtech Oy, said the VR in a press release on Wednesday.

The new coaches will be in use by the end of 2025. The value of the procurement is about EUR 50 million.

The new rolling stock will meet the growing demand for night train travel as well as passenger expectations. VR’s aim is to make night train travel even more popular.

“We are pleased to note that the popularity of night train travel has grown by 17 per cent, compared to 2018. With these new coaches, we want to meet the wishes of our customers and further develop the travel experience,” said Elisa Markula, Chief Executive Officer of VR.

The new coaches will be operated on overnight train routes, i.e., from Helsinki, Turku and Tampere to Oulu, Rovaniemi, Kemijärvi and Kolari, as part of the existing night train formations.

VR's current night train fleet consists of 80 sleeper coaches and 33 car-carrier coaches.

Škoda Transtech won the tendering for VR’s new night train wagons. The sleeper coaches and car-carrier coaches will be produced at Škoda Transtech's factory in Otanmäki, Kajaani.

“Our night train coaches are a good example of modern rolling stock design, helping to develop rail traffic as an attractive alternative. This deal will strengthen the order book of our Otanmäki factory and maintain the region's vitality and competitiveness,” said Juha Vierros, CEO of Škoda Transtech.

The procurement also includes an option to purchase an additional 30 sleeper coaches and 30 car-carrier coaches. These would make it possible to increase the number of night train services or routes in the future and to replace the old blue sleeper coaches, which will reach the end of their useful lives in the early 2030s.

Night train traffic is part of the contract traffic between VR and the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

VR finances the procurement with its own funds, and the Ministry of Transport and Communications compensates VR for part of the procurement costs, as defined in the contract traffic agreement.