The state-owned Operail has received clearance from the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency to provide rail cargo services across the country's network.

The company will use nine six-axle Wabtec PowerHaul locomotives, out of which two have already been green-lighted to work in Finland.

Operail expects to start carrying freight across Finland this autumn.

"The issuing of the operating licence and the certification of our safety management system are important milestones for us, and confirm that the quality of the service we'll be providing meets the highest standards required in Finland," Paul Lukka, Member of Operail's Management Board, said.

He added, "We're coming to the Finnish market with wide-ranging experience and we'll be offering our clients a service concept that's guided by their needs."

In addition, a sister company, Operail Leasing Finland, leases wagons to industrial customers, most recently 195 open-type ones to Metsä, a Finnish forest industry group.

Photo: Operail