VR has retained ownership of private tracks for historical reasons, which will be transferred to a new subsidiary, Raideinfra Oy, and to the management of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency in December.
Private tracks refer to tracks that are not under the control of the Finnish Infrastructure Agency and that are not part of the state rail network. In Finland, the Finnish Infrastructure Agency is responsible for the maintenance, development and upkeep of the state rail network. Owners of private tracks include, for example, industrial companies and ports.
VR Group Plc also owns a total of approximately 60 kilometres of private tracks, which corresponds to approximately one percent of the length of the entire state rail network. The private tracks are mainly connected to depot properties, the ownership of which VR is in the process of relinquishing.
Approximately 16 km of VR’s private tracks will be transferred to the ownership of the Finnish Infrastructure Agency in December. These tracks are located in the immediate vicinity of the state rail network managed by the Finnish Infrastructure Agency, serving, among other things, track maintenance. The remaining approximately 44 km will be transferred to the Raideinfra Oy subsidiary, which VR will establish in accordance with the regulations.
For the time being, Raideinfra Oy will mainly own private tracks that lead, for example, to rolling stock maintenance facilities in front of depots. The solution is intended to be temporary only, as in the longer term the goal is for VR to no longer act as a rail infrastructure owner at all.
VR is increasingly focusing on its core business as a passenger and freight transport operator. The ownership of rail infrastructure and train operations were separated in 1995 when VR was incorporated. The abandonment of private tracks is part of a natural continuation of this development.
VR is actively promoting a growing, sustainable and competitive rail market in Finland. VR has previously stated that it is aiming to divest its station and depot properties in order to promote competitive neutrality. VR has also put up for sale surplus equipment; locomotives suitable for traffic use, as well as freight and passenger carriages.
The change in ownership will be implemented in such a way that the impact on current users of the private tracks, valid usage agreements and practical train traffic operations is minimised.
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