Finland’s state-owned railway company VR said it had seized four trains that it co-owned through a joint venture with its Russian counterpart, Russian Railways (RZD), that used to travel between the two countries.
The Russian Government had neglected its financial obligations towards the Karelian Trains joint venture, VR said in a statement on December 14, adding its negotiations with Russian Railways had lasted over one and a half years without any result.
Passenger trains between Finland and Russia were suspended in March 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
VR redeemed Karelian Trains’ loans when the venture faced bankruptcy in June 2023, and obtained rights that allowed it to seize the trains, it said.
Russian Railways declined to comment.
The Allegro trains, tilting high-speed trains also known as Sm6, each consist of seven carriages, according to VR.
The trains are expected to be put into service in domestic long-distance travel in Finland from 2025.
