11 Sep 2013

NIB finances new rolling stock for Finnish railways

NIB and SEB Leasing Oy have signed a EUR 70 million loan agreement to finance the acquisition of new railway trailers and coaches to be leased to the Finnish state-owned railway operator VR-Yhtymä Oy (VR).

The new loan agreement will finance the acquisition of 51 railway driving trailers and restaurant coaches manufactured by Transtech Oy, Finland. The investment programme is scheduled for the years 2013–2015.

Combining the properties of a locomotive and a passenger car, the new driving trailers will help VR reduce congestion at railway hubs in Helsinki and Tampere, because they can be can be driven from either end without changing the locomotive. They are also expected to reduce travel time, as they are equipped to handle speeds higher than their predecessors. The modern functionalities of the new restaurant coaches to be used on long-distance routes imply an enhancement in service quality and traveller comfort.

Wholly-owned by the state, VR-Yhtymä Oy is the only commercial actor on the 5,919-kilometre Finnish railway network. Traditionally, a quarter of Finland’s goods traffic is transported via the rail network.

NIB is an international financial institution owned by eight member countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden. The Bank finances private and public projects in and outside the member countries. NIB has the highest possible credit rating, AAA/Aaa, with the leading rating agencies Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s.

For further information, please contact
Ms Tarja Kylänpää, Senior Director, Head of Infrastructure, Transportation & Telecom Group, at +358 10 618 0237,

Mr Dimitrijs Alehins, Senior Communications Specialist, at +358 10 618 0296,

Related resources

11 Sep 2013

SEB Leasing Oy

EUR 70 million