Foreword 308:Layout 1 19/5/08 11:08 Page 2
FOREWORD
VR has completed this investment commuter services, with a tolerance of
programme without taking on debt. three minutes.
This has been possible because every year Developments have been very positive.
since its incorporation, in 1995, VR has During the past six months, punctuality in
made a profit. long-distance services, despite the extensive
New services have also increased the single track network, has on average been
popularity of rail. Improvements have been 92% and in commuter services has been on
made, for example, to the availability of average 97%.
tickets, passenger information, and to the
areas for families and business passengers Long-term approach to financing
on trains. of railway lines
Recently, the Finnish Government
published a report on transport policy for
parliament to debate. This is of great
importance for the future of the railways.
A very positive aspect is that the
Government’s report includes the most
important track renovation projects for VR
and its customers. The largest project,
which will last for many years, is on the
main line from the south to the north of the
country. The track repairs needed in South-
Eastern Finland for the high-speed service
to Russia will also be carried out.
Work will also start on building the long-
awaited line from the centre of Helsinki
to Helsinki-Vantaa airport.
The Finnish Rail Administration,
mentioned earlier, puts all track work out
to competitive tender. VR-Track, part of the
Major investments in The prospects for passenger traffic VR Group, does everything it can to win
passenger services between Finland and Russia are extremely contracts that it is well equipped for thanks
Railways have a much smaller proportion promising. Last year, 400,000 passengers to its long-experience, knowhow, and
of passenger traffic in Finland than the crossed the border – almost 20% more modern machinery and equipment.
average in Europe. The country is the than in 2006. So, the present situation and the future
seventh largest (in area) in Europe but only It is estimated that towards the for railway services in Finland and for VR
has just over five million inhabitants. end of 2010, the journey time between looks bright. The competitive situation is so
Despite the pressure from the increasing Helsinki and St Petersburg will take only intense and customers have such high
use of private cars, rail has succeeded in three and a half hours – two hours demands, however, that VR cannot afford
significantly strengthening its market faster than today. The project is making to relax at all.
position and increasing its popularity. good progress, especially for the rolling
Particularly important in this were the stock company Karelian Trains, set
changes carried out in 2006, which cut up by VR and the Russian railway
Henri Kuitunen
journey times considerably and increased company RZD, who have already
the number of services by 5%. The number ordered four high-speed trains from
Henri Kuitunen has been President and
CEO of VR Group since 1997. Before this,
of journeys in VR’s passenger services Alstom. The work needed on the track is he was President of VR Ltd for two years,
division increased by 4.5% in 2007. also in progress in both countries, so it
which is responsible for rail services. He
previously worked as Director of VR’s freight
All new rolling stock had also been looks as if the plans will definitely be services and as Director of Administration at
taken into service by then. VR has carried out.
Pohjolan Liikenne, which also belongs to VR
Group and is responsible for its road services,
invested €530 million in modern rolling Finnish travellers take a very critical and as lawyer and personnel administrator.
stock over recent years. The items attitude to trains being late. Because of this,
Henri Kuitunen has a Master of Laws degree.
He sits on the Board of Directors of
purchased have included double-decker VR has made great efforts to improve rail
organisations such as the Confederation of
InterCity coaches, Pendolino trains, city punctuality. It has set a punctuality target
Finnish Industries EK, the Finnish-Russian
Chamber of Commerce and the Association
trains, railcars, sleeping cars, car transport of 90% for long-distance services, with a
of Finnish Advertisers.
wagons and engines. tolerance of five minutes, and of 97.5% for
www.europeanrailwayreview.com EUROPEAN RAILWAY REVIEW
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ISSUE 3
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