VR wins the tender for Öresundståg traffic in southern Sweden

VR Sverige AB has won the tender for the purchase traffic agreement for Öresundståg in southern Sweden, where operations will start in December 2025. The transport is ordered by Öresundståg AB, a company jointly owned by six regions: Blekinge, Halland, Kronoberg, Skåne, Kalmar and Västra Götaland. Öresundståg operates in the Öresund region, crossing the Danish and Swedish borders.

The purchase traffic agreement won is the fourth one since VR entered the Swedish market with the acquisition of Arriva Sweden's business in summer 2022. In May 2024, VR expanded its operations in the country also to commercial long-distance traffic by acquiring MTR Nordic's long-distance traffic operations MTRX, now operating on the Stockholm–Gothenburg route under the name VR Snabbtåg. In summer 2024, VR won the Norrtåg traffic contract in Sweden's northernmost counties, where operations will start in December 2025.

The value of this five-year purchase traffic agreement is approximately EUR 105 million per year, and it employs approximately 880 people.

"VR’s strengths in this competition were our solid expertise in digital solutions and high focus in employee experience - together with our long experience and vision of developing rail traffic. VR already has a strong presence in public transport in southern Sweden –¬¬ we are a popular employer in the region and we will now continue to build our employer image and attract the best talent. Excellent customer service and punctuality are the keys to increase the popularity of public transport both in Finland and in Sweden," says Elisa Markula, CEO of VR.

In line with its strategy, VR seeks profitable growth and experience in a competed Swedish market as it prepares for intensifying rail traffic competition also in Finland.

The appeal period for the tender ends on 25.10.2024.