Operail has begun railway operations in Finland and cooperation with Rauanheimo, a leading port operator
On 3 November, international transport and logistics company Operail operated its first ever commercial freight train in Finland. Operail will be the main railway operator for Rauanheimo transporting dry bulk on the Vainikkala-Koverhar route.
“International expansion is an integral part of our growth strategy and we are delighted to take the next step towards greater goals by starting operations in Finland. This is the moment we have been eagerly waiting for,” said Paul Lukka, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Operail Finland and a member of the Management Board of Operail Group. “We are grateful to Rauanheimo for the trust they have placed with us, and we will do our best to meet the expectations set for us and offer a high-quality and reliable service,” Lukka added. “We are now present in Finland and our aim is to secure our position in the market. We already have new plans in place, and we will be happy to share them with the public when the time is right.”
Operail will be providing railway-hauling services for Rauanheimo from the boarder station Vainikkala to the port of Koverhar in Hanko. Joakim Laxåback, Managing Director of the leading port operator Rauanheimo in Finland said:
“It is good that there is interest in the transport market in Finland and that new establishment is taking place. Operail will certainly perform well and perfectly complement VR Transpoint’s existing efficient service. Finland is at a long distance from the real world market and it is extremely important that we further strengthen logistics and are cost-effective. These two railway operators, which are in a constant phase of development within their own niche areas, strengthen trade in Finland and our competitiveness on the world market.
We see substantial volumes for dry bulk transported by rail on the Vainikkala-Koverhar route and in the long term a growing need for rail transport in the whole country, both in terms of domestic loads and transit.”
Operail announced its expansion to Finland in October of last year. “In a short time, we have managed to hire highly valued professionals to our team, whose knowledge and experience have helped to make sure that the intensive preparation period was successful,” said Ilkka Seppänen, Managing Director of Operail Finland Oy. “We would like to thank the Finnish authorities and our partners for their professional, supportive, efficient and constructive cooperation. Also, my gratitude goes out to Operail Finland’s staff for their incredible effort,” added Seppänen.
Operail is an international transport and logistics company whose main areas of operation are freight transport, the construction and repairing of locomotives, and the rental of rolling stock. The company employs nearly 600 people. In addition to the parent company AS Operail, the Operail group includes the freight wagon rental companies AS Operail Leasing and Operail Leasing Finland Oy as well as the Finnish railway transport company Operail Finland Oy.
Rauanheimo is the leading port operator with long experience and strong investment capacity. The company, which employs over 200 people, operates in all major ports in Finland, and continuously look for business opportunities in new locations, all the while investing in current ports. Their services include, total logistics services, stevedoring, forwarding, ship´s agency and added-value services etc. Rauanheimo is today Finland’s largest actor in Russian transit traffic. Company is also the national leader in dry bulk handling in the ports.