VR Group to incorporate maintenance business

VR Group will transfer its maintenance business to a subsidiary operating within the Group. Operating under the name VR Maintenance Oy, the company began its operations on 1 January 2019, with 990 old employees transferring to the new company. The company specialises in the maintenance of rail equipment and rolling stock and is led by Kimmo Soini, Senior Vice President, Maintenance.  

The objective is to develop VR Maintenance Oy into a competitive unit that offers maintenance services for multi-brand rolling stock. The plan is to broaden the customer base and seek growth in neighbouring areas and other sectors. 

“With this change, VR Group is conforming to the requirements of its operating environment in accordance with its strategy and simultaneously creating a platform for new growth. The incorporation of maintenance makes it possible to create entirely new markets in Finland and abroad. In addition to this, VR Group will now be able to concentrate even more on passenger and freight traffic and improve the customer experience,” says Rolf Jansson, President and CEO, VR Group.

“The rolling stock maintenance market looks promising. As the rail traffic market share of all traffic grows, the maintenance market will also grow. We have faith in our competitiveness in this market and we believe that we can put the operative experience gained by the company to good use. We have an excellent understanding of what our customers want. The incorporation will also open up new opportunities for us to develop and expand our current operations,” says Kimmo Soini, Senior Vice President, Maintenance.

All of VR Maintenance Oy’s shares are owned by VR Group. The services of the new company will still include, for example, preventive and daily maintenance of rolling stock, fault repairs, component refurbishments and overhauls, freight wagon manufacture and equipment lifecycle management. The company will also provide expert services related to rail traffic equipment technology. 

Further information for the media: 

Please contact VR Group via the media desk: tel. +358 (0)307 0123

Background:
In June 2018, VR Group and the Ministry of Transport and Communications reached a mutual understanding regarding the progress of opening up competition for railway passenger traffic LINK to the Ministry of Transport and Communications’ bulletin from 5 June 2018