Norway and Sweden order heavy rail wagons from Finland

Finnish State Railways subsidiary VR FleetCare announced in a press release on 20 December that it had received an order for heavy rail wagons for Norway and Sweden.

VR FleetCare will design, manufacture, and deliver an initial batch of 10 units, with an option for another 110, for Bane NOR, the owner of Norway's rail infrastructure; the Norwegian Defence Materiel Administration; and the Swedish Armed Forces. Design work has begun, with the first deliveries planned for 2025.

The six-axle wagons must be able to transport heavy NATO equipment, be able to operate in the Arctic's polar climate zone, and be designed to be usable, as well as having a long life cycle and maintainability. Previously no heavy-duty wagons have been approved for use in Arctic conditions, according to VR FleetCare.