VR has appointed Janne Hattula to take responsibility not only for Finland but also for the city traffic business in Sweden, as Johan Oscarsson moves on to new opportunities outside the company. Going forward, Hattula will be responsible for tendered rail and bus services in both Finland and Sweden. He will assume his role immediately.
VR and the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom have signed a tendered traffic agreement for passenger train services between Oulu, Tornio and Haaparanta. Daily operations will start on Monday, 10 August 2026 and 28 services will be operated weekly.
VR has commissioned the new rolling stock wheelset maintenance centre, Wheel Works, and a modern wheelset lathe in Pieksämäki. The investment significantly strengthens Finland’s security of supply and the operational reliability of rail traffic, as Finland now has two wheelset lathes that are critical for rail traffic operations instead of one.
